Walter Scott's Mediatory Values In Ivanhoe

Walter Scott (1771—1832), one of the great novelists and poets of 19th century in Britain, is called the Father of History Novel in Europe. There have been many researching achievements on Scott and his works at home and abroad. As one of Scott's famous historical novels, Ivanhoe has also been receiving much attention. This thesis tries to analyze his mediatory values during his life from the perspective of Ivanhoe.Scott's mediatory values mainly come from the past historical development of his nation and the traditional values. He tries to act as a mediator between the conflicting parties, either in history, religion or society, because he is in the full conviction that reconciliation will ultimately appear between both conflicting parties. Therefore, before we discuss these values in Ivanhoe, we need to get a general idea about how they came into being and what their nature is, which is analyzed in the second chapter.This thesis puts its focus in the third chapter, in which Scott's mediatory values in Ivanhoe are studied from his independent stand in the following aspects:politics, history, religion, gender and the society. Towards politics, he holds the view that the importance of royalty should be respected but he pays more attention to virtues of rulers. In Ivanhoe, he shows his disdain for King John and praise for King Richard. Scott also connects history with his novels. Neither does he beautify history, or fabricate his works. He tries to show his readers a kind of historical probability besides its inevitability.Scott also holds moderate attitude towards religion. He is one member of a traditional and neutral church of Scotland and resists the practice of those churches which try to be the center of the general mass. At the end of Ivanhoe, the Jew Isaac and his daughter go to Spain, because the Jews are persecuted in England for their belief in Islam. For women and the oppressed vulgar, he shows his sympathy and doesn't forget to describe their noble virtues. No matter which class they are in, women, serfs, or outlaws in Ivanhoe have gracious character. And all of Scott's these mediatory views are integrated into his mediatory values in this thesis. He actually tries to act as a mediator between tradition and progress. Conclusion puts forward that there is always a main theme throughout the novel and that's how to mediate among these social conflicts and then social members can live peacefully. Therefore Scott's mediatory values can still have practical significance today and contribute to the development of a harmonious society.