Book Review: Sir Walter Scott's Ivanhoe

For anyone who likes conventional chivaric values, the story in which the gallant knight saves the beautiful princess, Scott's Ivanhoe is one to go. Scott's romance, also considered as England's first historical novel, talks about the advantages of Sir Wilfred of Ivanhoe, who, at the beginning of the novel, returns to England from the East (from the Crusades), and after a few battles, rescues the beautiful Jewess Rebecca and marries another beauty, Lady Rowena. Parallel with the return of Ivanhoe is the return of Richard the Lion-hearted, who reclaims the English throne. Scott's language is clear, simple, humourous, delicate and poetic at the same time. His narrative technique is superbly controlled; his secondary characters, ranging from the swineherd Gurth, to the jester Wamba, to the evil Templar Bois Guilbert, to Robin Hood, to Rebecca are all unforgetable round characters; oddly enough the primary characters of Ivanhoe, Richard and Rowena are all rather flat (but this is justified because this is as much a historical novel as it is a nationalistic novel; there is a sense of nostalgia in Scott's writing, lamenting for England's former greatness).

Of course, if Scott's novel is only about the romance of Ivanhoe, then it would not be considered as one of the greatest novels written in the English language. Ivanhoe explores many contemporary issues; the setting back in the middle ages allows Scott to sketch out the extremes of modern day racism, sexism, classism and religious conflict. Scott rarely interjects into the narrative to comment on these issues, but there are moments when he subtly critiques these issues, and there is certainly evidence that Scott meant the novel, in a way, to be a satire on modern day social politics.

Ivanhoe, whether you want to read it as a social critique or as a purely adventure novel, is most certainly an enjoyable. Personally, I'm a little torn between the two readings: since elementary school days I've always desired to be a knight rescuing a lady; but since univerisity days I've also realized I should not oppress female power. Can a feminist occasionally indulge himself with a little nostalgia?