Deerslayer / Hawkeye / Nathaniel Bumppo

Nathaniel Bumppo's origins are unclear. He lives with the Delaware tribe for at least ten years and develops an understanding of Native American customs and languages. His contact with Native Americans has given him a high respect for them, although he considers himself to be separated from them by his race and religion. He is given the name Deerslayer because he is an expert marksman. However, he is very opposed to violence that has no purpose. His quick shooting during a confrontation with an Iroquois tribesman earns him the name Hawkeye, which is what he is known by in the other books of the series.

Deerslayer is presented as a philosophical frontiersman. His great love affair is with nature and he has little romantic affection for women. His life is ordered by strong moral convictions as well as his never-ending commentary on the gifts of...