Flight of the Heron read-along: Part III chapters 1-2

[regshoe]

Charlie chose the place himsel', the graveyard of Culloden...

Well, it looks like Keith's prophecies about the fate of the Jacobites, at least, weren't too inaccurate...

Next week we'll read chapters 3 and 4 of part III.

Comments

[osprey_archer]

Yes, I love that Ewen is so gentle in how he uses his strength. And I think that fits in with the pattern you mention where Ewen's relationship with Keith parallels & echoes his relationship with Alison: when Keith is his prisoner (even though he's a rather troublesome prisoner!) Ewen is always gentle and courteous to him, never using his strength to intimidate, just as he is gentle with Alison here when he's asking her to hurry up their wedding.

And yes on the contrast between Ewen's loving circle of friends and family versus Keith's emotional isolation! And that ties into the fact that Ewen is more open than Keith (generally speaking; as we saw last week, he can lie quite well when he needs to!): unlike Keith, he doesn't feel the need to be on guard all the time.

How DO you solve a problem like Lachlan? Clearly the problem is quite beyond poor Ewen!

[luzula]

I like sanguinity's point about the parallels between Keith and Alison, and I like the way you add to them, as well: that's a good point about Ewen's gentleness both with Keith and with Alison. Gentleness in the sense of being a gentleman. : )

Although we do see him spoiling for a fight as well, both in Edinburgh and during the war! But of course that's within a context where it's honourable for him to use force.

[osprey_archer]

Ewen really embodies the ideal of the 18th century gentlemen. Gentle and courteous to ladies and guests (and imprisoned officers count as guests), but ready and willing and indeed eager to fight in the right circumstances!

It's an interesting contrast to Keith, who is also an honorable gentleman, but hides it somewhat under a screen of irony and cynicism (although I don't think Keith is as cynical as he likes to think he is). Underneath they're alike, but they present differently on the outside and it makes them a bit of a puzzle to each other.