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The Two Drovers
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The Two Drovers
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Silver
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Jan 03, 2014 11:15AM
For discussing The Two Drovers by Sir Walter Scott, please be aware if you have not finished the story spoilers may be posted here.
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I have acquired a short story by Scott called The Two Drovers (in a general Walter Scott collection), but I see a GR listing of a collection of stories under the same name and author. Unfortunately, I have not been able to locate the collection, and so can't tell what other stories might be included. If someone could post the titles of the other short stories, I will track them down. Thanks!
I have finished the title story, The Two Drovers. It is my first experience read in Sir Walter Scott, although he has been on my radar since I found and read the Classic Comics version of Ivanhoe in my grandfather's basement. :)I struggled with the highland dialog, but I imagine further reading would make it less daunting. I liked that the characters are equally matched- handsome, likeable, hard-working, honorable, friendly- so that there is no clear "right" in the conflict between these two men who genuinely seem to like and respect each other. Only wounded pride and markedly different ways of dealing with it. The story is one of the clash between codes of honor (English vs. Highland) more than particular parties.
It makes me think about how many tragic mistakes and misunderstandings have stemmed from a lack of knowledge about people who are not "like us," whomever the "us" happens to be.
Renee wrote: "I have acquired a short story by Scott called The Two Drovers (in a general Walter Scott collection), but I see a GR listing of a collection of stories under the same name and author. Unfortunately..."For the purposes of the discussion within this group we will only be focusing on the story called The Two Drovers, not the entire collection. I myself am reading the story from The Oxford Anthology of Short Stories.
Thanks, Silver! I'm all set, then. :)
This is my second time reading Sir Walter Scott, the first being his book Rob Roy, and I find that I am not overly found of his writing. His use of dialect while can bring authenticity to his writing can also make for difficult reading, and difficulty in understanding. And his general narrative style does not appeal to me. With that being said I did overall enjoy this story. I do like the Highland setting and culture that he writes about. This was a very tragic tale about two individuals whom in many ways being very different (and coming from two different nations of which have a history of conflict with each other) manage to form a friendship and respect for each other which is ultimately destroyed (along with their own lives) because of a misunderstanding and misplaced pride, both personal and national pride.
Though Henry does not truly want to fight his friend Robin he is egged on by his fellow country men to do so, and Robin is than left feeling humiliated as a result of the different fighting tactics used by the English and the Highlanders, Robin feels the need to prove himself as man and as a fighter by avenging himself upon his friend.
I wonder about the bit of foreshadowing at the start of the story in which the reader is set up fort what is bond to happen when an old woman warns Robin of what is to come, and foresees his dirk having the blood of an Englishman upon it.
I think the story might have been more powerful without the foreshadowing... But of course it is the fact that Robin has given his dagger away and must retrieve it that shows premeditation.
Renee wrote: "I think the story might have been more powerful without the foreshadowing... But of course it is the fact that Robin has given his dagger away and must retrieve it that shows premeditation."Yes that is true. If he had no reason to dice up the dirk, it would have been a crime of passion, and the he may have been saved from execution. As well the fact that he held onto his anger so long is perhaps signifigent both to who he is as a person, and perhaps to the characteristics of Highlandres in general.
I wondered at it being a possible trait if highlanders. Perhaps, at least, the inability to forgive a slight against one's honor is a highland trait. I'm afraid I don't know much Scots history... Mary, James, Bonnie Prince Charlie, and Braveheart make up the extent of my Knowledge of the subject. Oh, and a ripping series by Dorothy Dunnett called the Chronicles of Lymmond.
My friend, a long time Scott fan, gave me an addition interpretation of this story. She sees woven into it, a kind of warning. As in, don't mess with the Highlanders, because they don't forget or forgive. They'll walk miles, wait hours, or days, or decades to get you back if you do them what they perceive as a wrong. So tread carefully!
Although I pass the magnificent Scott monument http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:S... on my way to work every day, this is the first of his stories I can remember reading. Old fashioned, certainly, but I enjoyed it. The foreshadowing was interesting - perhaps partly intended to underline for readers how different Scotland and Scottish ways are? Similarly, the recounting of Robin's lineage may have been partly intended to have the same effect - though presumably also to draw in fans of 'Rob Roy'.I'm now planning to read more Scott, having come across this plan to celebrate the 200th anniversary of 'Waverly' while finding out the background to the Drovers - it very eloquently makes the case for Scott as a writer - which I can see enough of in this short story to read more. http://stirlingcentrescottishstudies....
I am glad this story inspired you to read more of his work and enjoyed your insights. Interesting thought about Rob Roy, that is the only other work by Scott I have thus far read and reading this story did put me in mind of Rob Roy. I do think he captures Scottish culture well.
I read Malcolm Gladwell's Outliers recently, and found myself spitting over the chapter on the Hatfields and McCoys. Basically, the premise is that the family feuds of Appalachia were bound to happen given that their ancestors were from Scottish Highlands with their honor code AND the drover mentality! This story made the analogy really resonate!
