The image of Ivanhoe in the novel by W alter Scott

2024 Author: Leah Sherlock | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 05:25

Sir W alter Scott's contribution to the creation of the historical novel cannot be overestimated. More than one generation of readers read his works for a hundred and fifty years. "Ivanhoe" is one of the most interesting things written by this author.

Historical setting of the novel

The Normans conquered the ancestral lands of the Saxons about 150 years ago in just one battle. The novel is set in the 12th century against the background of the struggle of two brothers for the throne. This is the legitimate king Richard I and his brother John, who, in fact, wants to usurp power in the kingdom. The Plantagenet dynasty fully established itself on the island and forced out its indigenous inhabitants to the worst lands. The Saxon nobility dreams of regaining their former position. And the country finds itself in three opposing camps. Such is the alignment of forces at the beginning of the novel, where the main thing should be the image of Ivanhoe, created by the writer's imagination. The plot of the novel begins with the return of Ivanhoe to his homeland, where he does not know what awaits him.

Characterization of Ivanhoe's image

Wilfred Ivanhoe is disinherited by his father Cedric, but deeply in love with his ward Rowena,which Cedric is preparing a higher fate than marriage to his son. Ivanhoe is a Saxon knight who is loyal to Richard I, King of England, a representative of the Plantagenet dynasty that came from France. From his overlord, he received a desire to follow the courtly laws of honor. Valor, courage, loy alty for him is not an empty phrase. This is the characteristic of the image of Ivanhoe as a whole.

Participating in Richard's crusades, he gained great fame as a true defender of the faith and Christianity. There he covers himself with glory, but also arouses the hatred of the knight Boisguillebert, whom he defeated in a tournament in Palestine. This is one of the sides that characterizes the image of Ivanhoe. He is the perfect embodiment of the knightly code of honor and heroism. For him, Richard the Lionheart is an example. The brave knight spent a long time fighting for the Holy Land. He is not a youth, but a true noble man who will not act in haste - this is how Ivanhoe appears before the reader. During a two-day tournament at Ashby, he was seriously injured, but, having gathered all his strength and endurance, he brought the tournament to victory. And then Ivanhoe, not fully recovered, will go to defend the honor of the Jewish girl Rebekah. This is another facet that enters the image of Ivanhoe. To his king, whose valor and courage are impeccable, the knight treats with a large share of criticism because of his love affairs. The protagonist of the novel himself is monogamous, and he is not subject to any temptations. The image of Ivanhoe in the novel by W alter Scott is written rather monotonously. This character is positive andit's hard enough to draw it vividly.

Brian de Boisguillebert

This is a Knight of the Knights Templar. The Knights Templar are representatives of a powerful international military religious organization that is supposedly dedicated to the conquest of the Holy Land. But in fact, they often interfere in European politics. Brian de Boisguillebert is a formidable fighter who has endured many trials, dangers and violent passions. He is stern and looks sinister. He does not recognize morality. He indulges his passions and temptations. So, knowing that the we althy Jew Isaac is going to go to Sheffield, the knight does not disdain a simple attack on him for the purpose of robbery. Greed, a lustful attitude towards women, far from the lofty courtly notions of that time, characterize this character.

He doesn't hesitate to kidnap old Isaac's daughter, Rebecca, and woo his captive for love. However, over the course of the novel, his image undergoes a romantic change due to his love for Rebekah. He, realizing that the girl would not respond to his feelings, lost interest in life and died in a duel with Ivanhoe, but made his death conscious. Such is the image of the Knight of the Order of the Temple in W alter Scott's novel Ivanhoe. He is the opposite of the main character, but very interesting and bright.

Lady Rowena

It is difficult to analyze the image of the blond lady Rowena, because in the novel it is given as a hint and without development. We learn a lot about her environment, but we can only judge about her indirectly. From the text we learn that she is fair and beautiful. Morethe girl is reported to be a "soft, kind, gentle" creature, although due to her upbringing, she is quite proud and serious.

Lady Rowena is only a pawn in the hands of men who are trying to manipulate her. So, Maurice de Bracy immediately wanted to marry her when he found out what her dowry was. Cedric wishes to marry her to Athelstan so that they can give birth to a strong new royal Saxon generation. And no one cares about Lady Rowena's own feelings. She is not perceived by men as a person with her own desires. Even Ivanhoe treats it like a subject. When he returns to his homeland, he is in no hurry to please Lady Rowena with his appearance, but keeps everything from her in deep secrecy. Winning the tournament, Ivanhoe calls Rowena the queen of love and beauty, although she might have preferred a simple warm welcome.

Even when, at the end of the novel, Ivanhoe finally gets Cedric's consent to the wedding, it turns out that the reader has not even seen how Ivanhoe courted his bride. One can only assume that there was once courtship, and Rowena had a feeling of love for Ivanhoe. This young man is a medieval romantic knight, and he needs a beautiful lady to express courtly love and fight for her. This makes Rowena something of a pawn for the writer himself to keep up the love affair, and therefore attracts little interest, love and sympathy from the readership. The positive image of the writer failed. It's too sketchy.

Rebekah

Notit is quite fair to compare Rebekah and Rowena, because they play different roles in the novel. If the reader knows about the love of Rowena and Ivanhoe as a fait accompli and does not see any intrigue in it, then Rebekah's relationship with Ivanhoe is given in development. The love of a beautiful black-haired Jewish woman does not find a response in the soul of the protagonist. Rebekah is a proud, courageous, courageous and free person, since she does not belong to the highest nobility. She is a person despised because of her nationality. But a beautiful Jewish woman is almost always self-confident.

And whenever she is threatened with violence, she argues with the templar. Rebekah has the opportunity to choose her fate - to die with dignity at the Templars' trial, or to go to Spain and devote herself to working in a hospital. In the final scene, she gives Rowena a jewelry box and rejects an offer to convert to Christianity and stay in England.

These are the main female characters in W alter Scott's novel Ivanhoe.

Conclusion

The most famous writers of all countries read this novel immediately after its writing, not to mention the mass reader. Then he moved into the category of children's literature. But the modern child is unlikely to be interested in the novel. This colorfully described era of the early Middle Ages may arouse the interest of an adult thoughtful person who knows history and is prone to analysis.