Sunday, September 12, 2010

English and Scottish on the Scottish

     It was in the first quarter of the fourteenth century that the Scottish and the English recognized each other as rival powers and subsequently churned animosity towards the one another. The English blamed every great schism on the Scottish, especially William Wallace and Robert the Bruce. This made the Scottish think of themselves not less, but as the greatest force to stand at that day. 


The English were appalled by William Wallace and presently condemned all of Scotland. In Flores Historiarum (http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/source/1307bruce.html) Wallace has his life stripped of all meaning and shown under a harsh light, so as to show what a savage brute he truly is. The English justify their own merciless murder of the man by playing upon his weakest points.

Robert the Bruce had the same fate as William Wallace, to be scorned by the English and have them superficially judge all of Scotland and its people. The Flores Historiarum uses Robert's murder of John Comyn as evidence of how inhuman the man was. The English hyperbolized facts to see to it that their hatred towards the  Scots was carried from generation to generation.

The people of Scotland, under the power of God, feel they are the epitome of greatness. The Declaration of Arbroath (http://www.geo.ed.ac.uk/home/scotland/arbroath_english.html) puts a voice to the Scotland's grand thoughts of themselves. No one can take them, they are free to do whatever they please as long as they have the Heavenly Father in mind. The Scottish pray for and work towards their triumph over all other nations. No matter how great, the Scottish believe that they themselves are greater.

The English and Scottish were two of the greatest powers of the Medieval period and thusly had different views on themselves. The English strived to make other nations see the vicious Scots for what they were. The Scottish had faith in themselves to be destined for victory.

"The Declaration of Arbroath: English." Web. 12 Sept. 2010. <http://www.geo.ed.ac.uk/home/scotland/arbroath_english.html>.



"Medieval Sourcebook: Flores Historiarum: On William Wallace and Robert the Bruce, C. 1307."FORDHAM.EDU. Web. 12 Sept. 2010. <http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/source/1307bruce.html>.

1 comment:

  1. From your thesis statement, I begin to understand what you think about the English side; but the question asks how each side presents the Scots. Make sure your thesis statement wraps around the entire question.

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