Waverley Blog #1

The Battle of Culloden (1746)

    The story of Edward Waverley takes place during a time of division. The Jacobite Rising of 1745 was an attempt by the Jacobites to overthrow the Hanovers and regain the English throne for the Stuart line. Many people in England and Scotland disagreed on who had the right to the throne which eventually led to the Jacobite Rising of 1745. The main character, Edward Waverley, is an Englishman who travels to Scotland after joining the army in support of the Hanovers. As an Englishman in Scotland during this time, Waverley has to determine what side he is truly on as he discovers more of Scotland and the Scots.

    Throughout this text, Sir Walter Scott utilizes various characters, actions, and pieces of dialogue to emphasize the rift between England and Scotland. However, Scott also uses these techniques to show the internal conflict Waverley faces regarding what side he is on (Hanoverian or Jacobite). Before readers are even introduced to Waverley, it is noted that Scott's choice in naming Edward Waverley was a critical part of the story. Scott claims that the name of a character gives the audience expectations and that his choice of Waverley gives "little of good or evil", leaving Waverley's character to be determined only as the story continues (3). However, even with this choice of name, Scott shows us that Waverley will ultimately have to make a difficult choice (or choices) by the end of the story even though his choice wavers throughout the novel. 

    One of Scott's first references to the political rift between Scotland and England and Waverley's personal divide is shown through the characters of Everard and Richard. Everard, Edward Waverley's uncle, was a Jacobite supporter, whereas Richard, Waverley's father is a Hanoverian. Upon Richard's decision to disregard "the hereditary faith of Sir Everard in high church and the House of Stuart", Everard removed Richard as the next heir of the Waverley estate and replaced him with Edward (7).  Now, as the inheritor of the Waverley estate, Edward has both Jacobite and Hanoverian ties. The disconnect between these two figures in Waverley's life represents the beginning of the internal conflict Waverley will face throughout his journey to Scotland.

    Scott also references political and internal conflict through Waverley's romantic relationships. While Waverley is in Scotland he meets two women: Rose Bradwardine and Flora MacIver. Rose Bradwardine is said to be elegant and pure with, "hair of paley gold, and a skin like the snow of her own mountains in whiteness"(45). Rose's character brings an air of soft beauty that attracts Waverley. Additionally, as we know, Sir Walter Scott chooses his character's names intentionally, and with the rose being a symbol of England, we can infer that Rose's character represents Waverley's tie to the English. On the other hand, Waverley also meets Flora MacIver. Flora is described as beautiful, yet powerful. Scott writes "Edward thought he had never, even in his wildest dreams, imagined a figure of such exquisite and interesting loveliness" (117). With Rose representing Waverley's association with England, it can be assumed that Flora represents the temptation of Scotland for Waverley and of going against what is expected of him. 

    With Edward Waverley wavering between the support of England and Scotland, Scott introduces various situations to emphasize the internal struggle Waverley is facing. Waverley also has to decide between the allure of Flora and the security of Rose.