Magua is a fictional character and the main

antagonist An antagonist is a character in a story who is presented as the chief foe of the protagonist. Etymology The English word antagonist comes from the Greek ἀνταγωνιστής – ''antagonistēs'', "opponent, competitor, villain, enemy, ri ...

in the 1826 novel ''

The Last of the Mohicans ''The Last of the Mohicans: A Narrative of 1757'' is a historical romance written by James Fenimore Cooper in 1826. It is the second book of the '' Leatherstocking Tales'' pentalogy and the best known to contemporary audiences. '' The Pathfinde ...

'' by

James Fenimore Cooper James Fenimore Cooper (September 15, 1789 – September 14, 1851) was an American writer of the first half of the 19th century, whose historical romances depicting colonist and Indigenous characters from the 17th to the 19th centuries brought ...

. This historical novel is set at the time of the

French and Indian War The French and Indian War (1754–1763) was a theater of the Seven Years' War, which pitted the North American colonies of the British Empire against those of the French, each side being supported by various Native American tribes. At the st ...

. A

Huron Huron may refer to: People * Wyandot people (or Wendat), indigenous to North America * Wyandot language, spoken by them * Huron-Wendat Nation, a Huron-Wendat First Nation with a community in Wendake, Quebec * Nottawaseppi Huron Band of Potawato ...

Indian Indian or Indians may refer to: Peoples South Asia * Indian people, people of Indian nationality, or people who have an Indian ancestor ** Non-resident Indian, a citizen of India who has temporarily emigrated to another country * South Asia ...

chief Chief may refer to: Title or rank Military and law enforcement * Chief master sergeant, the ninth, and highest, enlisted rank in the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Space Force * Chief of police, the head of a police department * Chief of the bo ...

, he is also known by the French alias "Le Renard Subtil" ("The Wily Fox"). Magua is the enemy of

Colonel Munro Lieutenant-Colonel George Monro (sometimes spelled "Munro") (1700–1757) was a Scottish-Irish officer in the British Army. He is best remembered for his unsuccessful defense of Fort William Henry in 1757 during the French and Indian War. Afte ...

, the commandant of

Fort William Henry Fort William Henry was a British fort at the southern end of Lake George, in the province of New York. The fort's construction was ordered by Sir William Johnson in September 1755, during the French and Indian War, as a staging ground for ...

, and attempts on several occasions to abduct the colonel's daughters, Cora and Alice. He also assists the French leader, the

Marquis de Montcalm Louis-Joseph de Montcalm-Grozon, Marquis de Montcalm de Saint-Veran (28 February 1712 – 14 September 1759) was a French soldier best known as the commander of the forces in North America during the Seven Years' War (whose North American th ...

, in his attack on the fort. Magua reveals how his life was shattered by being abducted himself by the

Mohawks The Mohawk people ( moh, Kanienʼkehá꞉ka) are the most easterly section of the Haudenosaunee, or Iroquois Confederacy. They are an Iroquoian-speaking Indigenous people of North America, with communities in southeastern Canada and northern Ne ...

, the traditional enemies of the

. His life was spared and he was adopted into the tribe. During his time with the Mohawks, Magua met up with Colonel Munro, who punished him by tying him to a whipping-post for drinking whiskey, which he calls fire-water. Later, when he returned to the Huron village, he found that his wife had married another. In the novel, his attempts to force Munro's daughter Cora to become his wife and his hatred of the English lead to his downfall and death. He captures both daughters, but is pursued by their father, David Gamut, Hawkeye, Chingachgook, and Uncas. Magua kills Uncas during his attempt to free Cora, and one of Magua's companions stabs Cora, causing her death. Hawkeye soon shoots Magua, who falls from a cliff shouting his defiance to the end. In the most recent film version of this novel in 1992, Magua blames all his past misfortunes on Colonel Munro and swears to kill both Munro and his two daughters. He captures Munro during an ambush of the British evacuation of the fort, then cuts out his heart after telling his enemy his motives and plans. Later he kills Uncas. He himself is then killed by Chingachgook, the father of Uncas.

Portrayals

* ''The Last of the Mohicans'' (1920 American film) -

Wallace Beery Wallace Fitzgerald Beery (April 1, 1885 – April 15, 1949) was an American film and stage actor. He is best known for his portrayal of Bill in '' Min and Bill'' (1930) opposite Marie Dressler, as General Director Preysing in '' Grand Hotel'' ( ...

* ''The Last of the Mohicans'' (1932 serial)'' -

Bob Kortman Robert F. Kortman (December 24, 1887 – March 13, 1967) was an American film actor mostly associated with westerns, though he also appeared in a number of Laurel and Hardy comedies. He appeared in more than 260 films between 1914 and 1952. ...

* ''The Last of the Mohicans'' (1936 film) -

Bruce Cabot Bruce Cabot (born Étienne de Pelissier Bujac Jr.; April 20, 1904 – May 3, 1972) was an American film actor, best remembered as Jack Driscoll (character), Jack Driscoll in ''King Kong (1933 film), King Kong'' (1933) and for his roles in films ...

*''

Last of the Redskins ''Last of the Redskins'' (aka ''Last of the Redmen'') is a 1947 American Western film directed by George Sherman and starring Joh Hall and Michael O'Shea. The film was shot in Vitacolor but released in Cinecolor. Unlike other adaptations the ...

'' (1947 film) -

Buster Crabbe Clarence Linden Crabbe II (; February 7, 1908 – April 23, 1983), known professionally as Buster Crabbe, was an American two-time Olympic swimmer and film and television actor. He won the 1932 Olympic gold medal for 400-meter freestyle swimmi ...

* ''The Last of the Mohicans'' (1971 BBC TV serial) -

Philip Madoc Philip Madoc (born Philip Arvon Jones; 5 July 1934 – 5 March 2012) was a Welsh actor. He performed many stage, television, radio and film roles, and was recognised for having a "rich, sonorous voice" and often playing villains and office ...

* ''The Last of the Mohicans'' (1992 film) - Wes Studi

References

Literary characters introduced in 1826 Characters in American novels of the 19th century Drama film characters Fictional Iroquois people James Fenimore Cooper Male characters in literature Male literary villains {{novel-char-stub