In James Fenimore Cooper's story, "The Last Mohicans", Hawkeye proves himself to be an American romantic hero when he plays lacrosse while readers discuss war, protecting Cora and Alice rather than trying to save her own life, and seeking to reunite with her love Cora without letting anything get in her way. An American romantic hero defies society's norms and uses his self-acquired knowledge to put others before himself for personal gain. Romantic writers often include a hero who is seen as brave and pure of heart. The Last Mohicans is a story set in 1757 during the French and Indian War where the British use the Mohican tribe to try to defeat the French. The French were vastly outnumbered by the British and wanted to use Hawkeye, who had the best shot in the country. Hawkeye and his father Uncas throughout the story fight alongside the British and face many conflicts throughout the story. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essay Hawkeye is an American romantic hero because he displays his youth and possesses youthful qualities. The scene where the Mohicans are playing lacrosse as the British generals try to influence the Mohicans to help wage war against the British during the French and Indian War period. While the former gut leaders talk with the British generals, Hawkeye engages in a game of lacrosse with the other villagers, many of whom are younger than him. Hawkeye's actions express his youthful qualities because they prove that Hawkeye enjoys participating in youth games and chooses to have fun in a time of stress and worry for others. Hawkeye is a warrior, but he doesn't care about the politics of war. While Hawkeye expresses his youthful qualities, which some might consider excessive, he carries his sense of honor based not on the rules of society but on a higher principle. Hawkeye expresses the qualities of an American romantic hero when he displays his sense of honor based not on the rules of society, but on a higher principle. on the rules of society but on a higher principle. When the British were marching towards the sea, they were ambushed by the Huron Indians and the Huron tribe's fighting tactics proved very effective against the British troops. The Hurons kill almost all of the British troops, and Hawkeye spots Cora and Alice trying to escape while killing Cora would be murder. Hawkeye then saves Cora and Alice and escapes the attack with the girls to safety. The higher principle Hawkeye follows is putting others before himself. Hawkeye had an easy opportunity to escape, which would save his life, but instead chose to risk his life to save Cora and Alice. This shows the respect he has for others over himself and that he doesn't follow the norm to save himself before helping others. While Hawkeye shows his sense of honor based on a higher principle, he continually shows throughout the story that he seeks a higher truth in the natural world. Hawkeye exemplifies an American romantic hero as he searches for a higher truth in the natural world. After the Huron attack, he leads Alice and Cora to a safe place under the waterfall in order to save their lives. Hawkeye tries to find a way to save his love and reunite after the Huron tribe passes, so he jumps off the waterfall after telling Cora.