Alice

Alice is the younger daughter of Colonel Munro and the beloved of Duncan Heyward. Captured during the conflict, she is held apart from the other prisoners; her reunion with Duncan offers a brief reprieve, while her sister Cora’s final act of protection makes their bond central to the story’s closing tragedy.

Identity and Captivity

Alice is kept in a separate chamber of the cavern, among plunder taken from Fort William Henry. Duncan finds her there pale, anxious, and frightened. Her confinement makes her a prize of the conflict, but the scene also shows her as a person whose safety and return matter profoundly to her family and companions.

Reunion with Duncan

Alice recognizes Duncan and tells him she knew he would not desert her. Yet, seeing him arrive alone, she wishes he had not come without support. Too weak to remain standing, she sits while he recounts the events that have brought him to her. She listens with intense attention and weeps as he speaks of her father’s suffering. Duncan then urges her to draw on her courage, reminding her that she may return to her father and that his happiness depends on her efforts.

Sisterly Bond and Farewell

At the Delaware council, Alice stands beside Cora, their arms entwined. Although Alice is trembling and visibly anxious, Cora watches over her rather than concentrating on her own danger. When Cora prepares to leave with Magua, she asks Hawkeye not to abandon Alice and entrusts her to Duncan’s care. She praises Alice’s kindness and gentle character, calling her pure and lovely, then kisses her before turning away. Alice is unconscious at that moment, so the passage presents Cora’s farewell as an act of protection and love rather than a mutual exchange.

Relationships and Narrative Role

Alice’s attachment to Duncan is expressed through her confidence that he will come for her, while his response combines tenderness with an appeal to her strength. Her relationship with Cora is marked by reciprocal devotion: Alice offers to die to save her sister, and Cora’s final concern is that Alice be cared for and returned to safety. Together, the reunion and farewell define Alice through the ties that captivity threatens but does not erase.