William Wallace Still Relevant In The 15th Century
How different was the William Wallace portrayed in extracts C and D (in the 15th century) from that portrayed in extracts G, H and I (in the late 19th century), and why? Despite being considered as the greatest hero and persona in the history of Scotland William Wallace’s reputation and character are really controversial in terms of authenticity due to the different interpretations and descriptions that has been given by various historical and non-historical sources during different ages shortly and long after his life and act. Wallace’s legacy kept its value among the Scottish folk for centuries. In the eyes of the ordinary people he has been always a legend. Undying symbol of hope, justice, freedom and although his legend grew in
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Scotland his example became universal and widely spread and known around the world. However, at the time when Wallace lived there were no major evidences or sources that describe his life and his character in detail. That is why his symbolic status was widely disputed among historians and poets. The lack of details for Wallace’s life made his presence in the Scottish history easy for manipulation and turned out the emergence of different point of views about his existence. Some people exceeded his greatness, others accepted him as a brigand and a rebel that leads unnecessary revolution for his own goals. For third party he was one out of many and he was seen as a major representative of Scottish people’s will and desire in the end of 12th and the beginning of 13th centuries. All these gloomy interpretations and misinterpretations about Wallace’s life made his reputation mysterious. Nobody was able to say that he knows completely who William Wallace was nor he can say how he lived. People where always divided when they tried to talk about Wallace’s reputations in history but nevertheless all of them were united around the fact that there was such a person and that he took a serious part in Scottish history and that he made something memorable and valuable and because of that he left his name forever in the world history and that guaranteed his immortality – he was never forgotten. Although William Wallace’s story made most of the people to seek for the image of the hero within him, there were others that considered him as a part of the ordinary folk.
They considered him as great but not in heroic terms but in more humane manner. He was a leader but because he deserved to be such one, he was a guardian but because the people gave him this title, he was a patriot but only because he never showed that there is a political interest that stays above the cause for free state. Wallace was the hammer of the English due to the fact that he achieved many victories against them but not alone. He was dedicated and courageous – virtues that everyone who participated in the struggle against the Englishman had. Wallace came out of the cry of the Scottish people and their actions. Walter Bower’s Scotichronicon document was written in 1440, within the perspective of the ordinary people. He described Wallace as a person of his time would describe him: “He was a tall man with the body of a giant, cheerful in appearance with agreeable features, broad shouldered and big boned, with belly in proportion and lengthy flanks, pleasing in appearance but with a wild look, broad in the hips, with strong arms and legs, a most spirited fighting man, with all his limbs very strong and firm.” Although the detailed description of Wallace’s Physical appearance points out that he was a bit stronger than the ordinary folk it never goes into a science fiction style that tries to gives a godlike image to a person in order to make him look great. He looked as anyone else could possibly look. However, only one thing in this description distinguish him as the spark of the struggle and this is: “but with a wild look”. This represents that he was a character ready to take risks in the name of his cause, ready to sacrifice possibly and to be unstoppable until he gets what he wants. Wild also may refer to madness and to passionate struggle that everyone takes by heart.
Wallace was greatly admired for his presence and passion by the people but his actions and intentions were the ones that really made the difference. Again in Scotichronicon Bower goes after What Wallace done in order to be proclaimed guardian of Scotland. A title most noble of all and deserved with true dignity and honor which can be measured, seen and understood only by the commoners. “And this is not surprising, for he was most liberal in his gifts, very fair in his judgments, most compassionate in comforting the sad, a most skillful counselor, very patient when suffering, a distinguished speaker, who above all hunted down falsehood and deceit and detested treachery“. In this part of Bowers chronic we see Wallace as the ultimate symbol of rightfulness and justice. We see Wallace as a person who understands his own people, helps both in minor and major terms. He was not ashamed to put his titles bellow his compassion, he was not ashamed to be among the ordinary people, he was proud and honored. Another thing is that Bower describes Wallace’s struggle as such that must be fought on two fronts both home and against invaders because the enemy and the oppressor could be even your very own people: “who above all hunted down falsehood and deceit and detested treachery”. In the chronicle logic that Bower gave to his readers we can distinguish that his work is dedicated to the common people and to make them feel that Wallace was most noble in his actions because he wanted to be part of them, fight together with them and help them to achieve what they wanted. However, in Blind Harry’s poem the Wallace written in 1474 we see that no matter the good cause Wallace fought for there were still some that didn’t believe that this is right and decided to oppose him, even nobles like Robert Bruce – that had ambition for the Scottish crown. Blind Harry pulls out that no matter Wallace was ashamed or betrayed by Bruce’s treachery he still kept his respect for Bruce which betrayal turns out to be example of the uncertainty among the folk. Also Wallace kept his respect for his enemy and never talked with negligence or underestimation.
“What is the cause,’ said Br uce, ‘thou wilt not cease
From bloody wars, who mayst live in peace?’
‘It’s thy own fault,’ said Wallace, ‘be it known,
Who shamefully doth fight against thy own
I claim no right to rule but to defend…”
This is another great example given by Harry that shows the desire of Wallace to stay together with the people rather than pursuing power because of his authority and reputation that he got. Harry even shows on contextual level that no matter the fact that people need the nobles the nobles are hardly better than the people.
“But ‘gainst the South’ron, I must tell you sir,
Come life, come death, I’ll fight with all my bit...
I’d rather choose be hang’d up on the morn;
The great God knows, the wars I took in hand,
Was to keep free, what thou dost now gainstand.”
So in this quote Harry offers that despite the defeat at Falkirk Wallace didn’t lose his faith in the achievement of his final goal, he didn’t lose the faith in the Scottish people because he feels that they are as strong as him. He is dedicated to lead the fight till the end even if this end leads to death. Because sometimes people are the ones that lead the true fight and not the nobles. Wallace stays for his words dignity and reputation because they represent the reputation of the people as well. In their Documents Walter Bower and Blind Harry bring to their readers the idea that William Wallace is great but not because of his own actions or selfishness but because he was part of the people and because they choose him to be great, because they felt him like one of them. The message of the authors’ works that were written in 15th century and that try to reach all people is clearly the one that shows Wallace as the person that symbolizes the desires and intentions of the people in Scotland in the late 12th and early 13th centuries. Another chance to take a different look at Wallace’s reputation and image was given in the late 19th century where different authors and architects showed their point of view of what was the remembrance of Wallace’s legacy and deeds. The predominant reputation and image were the ones of the patriot, the nationalist, the separatist, the rebel. Wallace was seen as a symbol that is above anything common in this world – he was seen as the struggle itself. Wallace’s character had to be the one that brings iconic memories in the minds of everyone. He is supposed to be an idol for all of the Scots and his image should be glorified to a godlike extent. Some people such as Noel Paton and Thomas Rochead brought these ideas to a greater extent. Their proposals for National Wallace Monument showed that the public opinion in 19th century was severely driven out of nationalist ideas and desire for remembrance of what happened in the past and possibly what may happen in the future. In the first picture presented in document G is obvious that the monument will represent the absolute desire for overthrow of the English rule. We see William Wallace sculptured like a lion – brave and noble animal symbol of leadership and royalty. The idea which is coded in this image of Wallace is that Scotland’s fight for freedom is a heroic and noble quest which requires absolute dedication and bravery in order to be achieved. In other words it represents nationalist motifs especially with the fact that we see how the English king is being attacked and turned down by this terrifying lion. In the second proposal for monument made by Thomas Rochead we see that this extreme picture of strong nationalism is kind of driven away but the fact that we still have the statue of Wallace at the bottom pointing with a pulled out sword towards England still leaves the sign of eternal rivalry and the idea for national unification against the southern invaders. However, this detail of the Wallace’s statue in the bottom, is minimized by the overall size of the whole monument that was eventually build and holds within itself the greatness of Scotland because of its massiveness rather than the nationalist message. In terms of written work Wallace was also seen as a pure symbol of nationalism. Lord Provost of Stirling uses exactly the same words by saying: “We all feel he was connected with no party, and engaged in no party work...he is the highest and purest symbol of Scottish nationality.” These words also refer to the idea that Wallace was above any laws or rules, any parties and forms of government because his idea for freedom was universal as a philosophy in which there is no time or desire for manipulation of masses or diplomatic solutions. There was only time for unification under one banner for common cause. These words were part of the speech of Lord Provost on the they of the laying the foundations of Thomas Rochead’s Monument and were addressed to all people that were part of the Scottish nation. However in Theodore Napier’s speech said in 1896 we see again the idea for the national struggle presented but we also see the involvement of the political aspect without which it wouldn’t be possible for the Scotsmen to realize the thing that William Wallace was trying to do during his lifetime. In the quote:” They [the Scots] are more interested in a football or a golf match than in the political welfare and freedom of their country. Was it for this our great hero-patriot Wallace struggled for so long and lost his life? Was it not for the object of delivering Scotland from aggression and predominance? Do we not hail Bruce as the successful champion of our independence from English thralldom?” We see the criticism towards the ordinary Scots that forgot the real meaning of Wallace’s deed. That he didn’t just fought for the preservation of the name of Scotland, because if it was like that Scotland was going to be an English province at his time. He also fought for the preservation of the country and its culture. Country and culture are within the basis of nationalism as an idea and in this case we see that Wallace’s reputation is used as a motivation, as an aspect that should give the Scottish People the foundations of another fight because it seems that the old one haven’t achieved its absolute purpose. In 19th century Wallace’s reputation was used be authors and architects mainly to rise up the nationalist spirit among people and to make them remember the greatness of Scotland in the past in order to continue it in the future. Being the most controversial character in the Scottish history William Wallace’s reputation has been a subject of numerous changes, interpretations and misinterpretations throughout the different centuries. It is clear that his reputation was more or less used by a lot of people for their own used but others just chose to tell about him and his deeds. We see that the perspectives of Wallace in 15th and 19th century defer a lot from each other but this is because with the time history and the participants within it always are subjugated to changes by different sources. However, one thing is absolutely clear and that thing is that in 15th century Wallace’s reputation was presented in a way that shows his relationship with the people, that he was part of them and had a duty to fulfill for them. According to 15th century sources his life and legacy were part of the common struggle against the foreign rule and his mission was to win for the people while lead this struggle together with them. In 19th century on the other hand we see that his reputation was used as a symbol of nationalism and making people to feel proud because of what he has done in the past. We see that he is no more part of the people but he is above them and above everything because he is undying symbol of Scottish nationality.
Scotland his example became universal and widely spread and known around the world. However, at the time when Wallace lived there were no major evidences or sources that describe his life and his character in detail. That is why his symbolic status was widely disputed among historians and poets. The lack of details for Wallace’s life made his presence in the Scottish history easy for manipulation and turned out the emergence of different point of views about his existence. Some people exceeded his greatness, others accepted him as a brigand and a rebel that leads unnecessary revolution for his own goals. For third party he was one out of many and he was seen as a major representative of Scottish people’s will and desire in the end of 12th and the beginning of 13th centuries. All these gloomy interpretations and misinterpretations about Wallace’s life made his reputation mysterious. Nobody was able to say that he knows completely who William Wallace was nor he can say how he lived. People where always divided when they tried to talk about Wallace’s reputations in history but nevertheless all of them were united around the fact that there was such a person and that he took a serious part in Scottish history and that he made something memorable and valuable and because of that he left his name forever in the world history and that guaranteed his immortality – he was never forgotten. Although William Wallace’s story made most of the people to seek for the image of the hero within him, there were others that considered him as a part of the ordinary folk.
They considered him as great but not in heroic terms but in more humane manner. He was a leader but because he deserved to be such one, he was a guardian but because the people gave him this title, he was a patriot but only because he never showed that there is a political interest that stays above the cause for free state. Wallace was the hammer of the English due to the fact that he achieved many victories against them but not alone. He was dedicated and courageous – virtues that everyone who participated in the struggle against the Englishman had. Wallace came out of the cry of the Scottish people and their actions. Walter Bower’s Scotichronicon document was written in 1440, within the perspective of the ordinary people. He described Wallace as a person of his time would describe him: “He was a tall man with the body of a giant, cheerful in appearance with agreeable features, broad shouldered and big boned, with belly in proportion and lengthy flanks, pleasing in appearance but with a wild look, broad in the hips, with strong arms and legs, a most spirited fighting man, with all his limbs very strong and firm.” Although the detailed description of Wallace’s Physical appearance points out that he was a bit stronger than the ordinary folk it never goes into a science fiction style that tries to gives a godlike image to a person in order to make him look great. He looked as anyone else could possibly look. However, only one thing in this description distinguish him as the spark of the struggle and this is: “but with a wild look”. This represents that he was a character ready to take risks in the name of his cause, ready to sacrifice possibly and to be unstoppable until he gets what he wants. Wild also may refer to madness and to passionate struggle that everyone takes by heart.
Wallace was greatly admired for his presence and passion by the people but his actions and intentions were the ones that really made the difference. Again in Scotichronicon Bower goes after What Wallace done in order to be proclaimed guardian of Scotland. A title most noble of all and deserved with true dignity and honor which can be measured, seen and understood only by the commoners. “And this is not surprising, for he was most liberal in his gifts, very fair in his judgments, most compassionate in comforting the sad, a most skillful counselor, very patient when suffering, a distinguished speaker, who above all hunted down falsehood and deceit and detested treachery“. In this part of Bowers chronic we see Wallace as the ultimate symbol of rightfulness and justice. We see Wallace as a person who understands his own people, helps both in minor and major terms. He was not ashamed to put his titles bellow his compassion, he was not ashamed to be among the ordinary people, he was proud and honored. Another thing is that Bower describes Wallace’s struggle as such that must be fought on two fronts both home and against invaders because the enemy and the oppressor could be even your very own people: “who above all hunted down falsehood and deceit and detested treachery”. In the chronicle logic that Bower gave to his readers we can distinguish that his work is dedicated to the common people and to make them feel that Wallace was most noble in his actions because he wanted to be part of them, fight together with them and help them to achieve what they wanted. However, in Blind Harry’s poem the Wallace written in 1474 we see that no matter the good cause Wallace fought for there were still some that didn’t believe that this is right and decided to oppose him, even nobles like Robert Bruce – that had ambition for the Scottish crown. Blind Harry pulls out that no matter Wallace was ashamed or betrayed by Bruce’s treachery he still kept his respect for Bruce which betrayal turns out to be example of the uncertainty among the folk. Also Wallace kept his respect for his enemy and never talked with negligence or underestimation.
“What is the cause,’ said Br uce, ‘thou wilt not cease
From bloody wars, who mayst live in peace?’
‘It’s thy own fault,’ said Wallace, ‘be it known,
Who shamefully doth fight against thy own
I claim no right to rule but to defend…”
This is another great example given by Harry that shows the desire of Wallace to stay together with the people rather than pursuing power because of his authority and reputation that he got. Harry even shows on contextual level that no matter the fact that people need the nobles the nobles are hardly better than the people.
“But ‘gainst the South’ron, I must tell you sir,
Come life, come death, I’ll fight with all my bit...
I’d rather choose be hang’d up on the morn;
The great God knows, the wars I took in hand,
Was to keep free, what thou dost now gainstand.”
So in this quote Harry offers that despite the defeat at Falkirk Wallace didn’t lose his faith in the achievement of his final goal, he didn’t lose the faith in the Scottish people because he feels that they are as strong as him. He is dedicated to lead the fight till the end even if this end leads to death. Because sometimes people are the ones that lead the true fight and not the nobles. Wallace stays for his words dignity and reputation because they represent the reputation of the people as well. In their Documents Walter Bower and Blind Harry bring to their readers the idea that William Wallace is great but not because of his own actions or selfishness but because he was part of the people and because they choose him to be great, because they felt him like one of them. The message of the authors’ works that were written in 15th century and that try to reach all people is clearly the one that shows Wallace as the person that symbolizes the desires and intentions of the people in Scotland in the late 12th and early 13th centuries. Another chance to take a different look at Wallace’s reputation and image was given in the late 19th century where different authors and architects showed their point of view of what was the remembrance of Wallace’s legacy and deeds. The predominant reputation and image were the ones of the patriot, the nationalist, the separatist, the rebel. Wallace was seen as a symbol that is above anything common in this world – he was seen as the struggle itself. Wallace’s character had to be the one that brings iconic memories in the minds of everyone. He is supposed to be an idol for all of the Scots and his image should be glorified to a godlike extent. Some people such as Noel Paton and Thomas Rochead brought these ideas to a greater extent. Their proposals for National Wallace Monument showed that the public opinion in 19th century was severely driven out of nationalist ideas and desire for remembrance of what happened in the past and possibly what may happen in the future. In the first picture presented in document G is obvious that the monument will represent the absolute desire for overthrow of the English rule. We see William Wallace sculptured like a lion – brave and noble animal symbol of leadership and royalty. The idea which is coded in this image of Wallace is that Scotland’s fight for freedom is a heroic and noble quest which requires absolute dedication and bravery in order to be achieved. In other words it represents nationalist motifs especially with the fact that we see how the English king is being attacked and turned down by this terrifying lion. In the second proposal for monument made by Thomas Rochead we see that this extreme picture of strong nationalism is kind of driven away but the fact that we still have the statue of Wallace at the bottom pointing with a pulled out sword towards England still leaves the sign of eternal rivalry and the idea for national unification against the southern invaders. However, this detail of the Wallace’s statue in the bottom, is minimized by the overall size of the whole monument that was eventually build and holds within itself the greatness of Scotland because of its massiveness rather than the nationalist message. In terms of written work Wallace was also seen as a pure symbol of nationalism. Lord Provost of Stirling uses exactly the same words by saying: “We all feel he was connected with no party, and engaged in no party work...he is the highest and purest symbol of Scottish nationality.” These words also refer to the idea that Wallace was above any laws or rules, any parties and forms of government because his idea for freedom was universal as a philosophy in which there is no time or desire for manipulation of masses or diplomatic solutions. There was only time for unification under one banner for common cause. These words were part of the speech of Lord Provost on the they of the laying the foundations of Thomas Rochead’s Monument and were addressed to all people that were part of the Scottish nation. However in Theodore Napier’s speech said in 1896 we see again the idea for the national struggle presented but we also see the involvement of the political aspect without which it wouldn’t be possible for the Scotsmen to realize the thing that William Wallace was trying to do during his lifetime. In the quote:” They [the Scots] are more interested in a football or a golf match than in the political welfare and freedom of their country. Was it for this our great hero-patriot Wallace struggled for so long and lost his life? Was it not for the object of delivering Scotland from aggression and predominance? Do we not hail Bruce as the successful champion of our independence from English thralldom?” We see the criticism towards the ordinary Scots that forgot the real meaning of Wallace’s deed. That he didn’t just fought for the preservation of the name of Scotland, because if it was like that Scotland was going to be an English province at his time. He also fought for the preservation of the country and its culture. Country and culture are within the basis of nationalism as an idea and in this case we see that Wallace’s reputation is used as a motivation, as an aspect that should give the Scottish People the foundations of another fight because it seems that the old one haven’t achieved its absolute purpose. In 19th century Wallace’s reputation was used be authors and architects mainly to rise up the nationalist spirit among people and to make them remember the greatness of Scotland in the past in order to continue it in the future. Being the most controversial character in the Scottish history William Wallace’s reputation has been a subject of numerous changes, interpretations and misinterpretations throughout the different centuries. It is clear that his reputation was more or less used by a lot of people for their own used but others just chose to tell about him and his deeds. We see that the perspectives of Wallace in 15th and 19th century defer a lot from each other but this is because with the time history and the participants within it always are subjugated to changes by different sources. However, one thing is absolutely clear and that thing is that in 15th century Wallace’s reputation was presented in a way that shows his relationship with the people, that he was part of them and had a duty to fulfill for them. According to 15th century sources his life and legacy were part of the common struggle against the foreign rule and his mission was to win for the people while lead this struggle together with them. In 19th century on the other hand we see that his reputation was used as a symbol of nationalism and making people to feel proud because of what he has done in the past. We see that he is no more part of the people but he is above them and above everything because he is undying symbol of Scottish nationality.