Waverley Blog #2

    In his novel, Waverley, or Tis Sixty Years Since, Sir Walter Scott uses real Scottish history and events to create the enthralling story of Edward Waverley. Due to his writing Waverley, Scott has been classified as the creator of the historical novel genre. Throughout my reading of Waverley, I have really enjoyed Scott's utilization of fictitious characters and situations to touch on the political issues of 19th-century Scotland. 

    Many of Scott's events in Waverley mirror the actual history of the Jacobite Uprising and Scottish politics. Scott uses specific characters to show the division between the Scottish and the English, but also between the Highlanders and Lowlanders of Scotland. To demonstrate the division between the Highlanders and Lowlanders of Scotland, Scott writes about two fictional families: the Mac Ivors and the Bradwardines. The Mac Ivors are a family from the Scottish Highlands and are in support of the Jacobites and Bonnie Prince Charlie. An interesting fact that Scott pulled directly from real-life events was the name of the Mac Ivor sister: Flora. Flora Mac Ivor is based on Flora MacDonald. MacDonald was a Jacobite who actually helped Bonnie Prince Charlie escape from Hebrides. In contrast to the Mac Ivors, Scott writes about the Bradwardines, who are a respected family from the Lowlands. Scott also uses historical events like the Battle of Prestonpans.

   

Scott's use of history and politics in this novel made Waverley the first of its kind. This text allowed Scott to discuss politics openly without being extremely direct. Additionally, because of the historical accuracy of Waverley, Scott actually published the book anonymously. It also paved the way for every other historical novel to be created.


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