Sir Walter Scott, a Historical Novelist

 

    Sir Walter Scott is remembered chiefly as a novelist. He is said to have popularized a new form of novel, historical novel. His genius is best suited for this form. He mingles history, with the life of the Scottish peasants. 

    The influence of the romantic period is seen in Scott's choice of theme of the past, as the romantics were remembered in the middle ages. Again, Wordsworthian choice of the Scottish peasant. His first novel "Waverley" is nothing but an amalgamation of the manners of the Scottish and historical romance. 

    Historical Novel is different from history. It is neither the life of the actual historical persons nor the presentation of actual facts of history. It only presents the life and manners of the people of a particular period. Scott's "Ivanhoe" is an imaginary novel which has the historical background of twelfth century.

    In his novels, Scott presents a picture of eight centuries. To give a few examples, his 

        "Count Robert of Paris" is based on eleventh century, 

        "Talisman" and "Ivanhoe" on twelfth century, 

        "Castle Dangerous" on the fourteenth century, 

        "Quentin Durward" on fifteenth century, 

        "Kenilworth" on the sixteenth century, 

        "The Fortunes of Nigel", The Legend of Montrose" and "Old Mortality" on the seventeenth century, 

        "Roy and the Heart of Midlothian" on the eighteenth century

        "Ronan's Well" on the nineteenth century. 

Scott not only deals with the history of Scottland and England but also that of France.

    Scott has a thorough knowledge of the past. Past came to him automatically. At the same time, we cannot take the facts given by Scott as historical truths. He takes liberties with history. Hence, for example : Scott's "Ivanhoe" cannot be taken as a perfect picture of the middle ages. His historical characters like James I, Louis XI, Elizabeth and others are all fine imaginative creations. 

    Again, Scott's novels are novels of action. They are drawn on a vast scale. Scott is always seen in his best when he presents his Scottish peasants and Scottish life, with which he is familiar. Even as an young boy, he was attracted by the stories about the border land. His first at literary composition was only Scottish ballads. Scott has created a wide range of characters, but he lacks insight into his characters. His characters are brought an pictures but not the results of a psychological analysis. He is unable to paint stronger emotions like love, violence, anger, etc. At the same time, he excelles all other novelists in portraying historical events. 

    There are certain defects in Scott's novels. His novels are all very well constructed. His creations lacks spiritual insight and grasp. Scott is not good in presenting female characters. It is to be admitted that, inspite of all the defects, his novels never fail to please us.