Flight of the Heron read-along: Part III chapter 5

[regshoe]

:D

That Night in the Hut.

Next week we'll read the first two chapters of Part IV.

Comments

[tgarnsl]

I'm two weeks late to the party (again).

I enjoyed last week's chapters, mostly because it marks a very different shift in the book's tone than before — I think it's quite interesting putting Culloden as roughly the central point of the story, because it allows for a very nice counterpoint to the tone of the first half. The first half starts out in quite a heroic tone and ends in quite a tragic one: it's interesting to see the fallout from that, and the complexities that arise in the aftermath of military defeat. Guthrie's character (more on him later) is quite interesting in that he is a good example of just how complicated the Rising actually was, a far cry from the simple Scots vs English dichotomy that sometimes seems to be presented.

However, I find Keith's own journey in the aftermath of Culloden very fascinating: how he both despises and also, to a certain extent, permits the atrocities that followed, if only by inaction. While Broster does keep his hands reasonably clean by having him as a staff officer, he seems to feel a sense of culpability that he tries to excuse even as he feels ashamed for it, a really interesting character note. While it's present earlier, V ernyyl guvax gung vg'f ng guvf cbvag jr fgneg gb frr Xrvgu'f nzovgvba orpbzr uvf unznegvn, uvf sngny synj. He feels remorse, certainly, but he seems to be able to rationalise the horrible actions undertaken by the British Army as an awful but inevitable consequence of war. Even the sight of the dead woman and child and knowledge that this is not the first, nor the last, time such a thing will happen doesn't make him question whether the army's actions are really justified — he skirts around facing the question head on, even as he feels branded.

Of course, he does have a weakness, in the form of one Ewen Cameron. I find it fascinating how up until the moment he recognises Ewen he is not willing to stop the execution, but the moment he sees that it's Ewen we find out just where precisely he has drawn the line on allowing horrible things to be carried out. I have to say, I do wonder at the whole recoginising-the-Cameron-tartan thing, as the concept of clan tartans is a semi-fictionalised Victorian concept (damned Sobieski Stuarts), although it's entirely possible that he recognises it on the basis of it being like the one he wore earlier (Keith in a kilt is still the funniest part of the book). The first time I read this chapter I couldn't believe my eyes when Keith throws himself between Ewen and the firing squad. It's so capital-R Romantic, Keith riding in, throwing himself off his horse to protect Ewen, Ewen fainting into his arms... the dirty, bloodstained, half-clothed figure which Keith had last seen so gallant in powder and satin, cool, smiling and triumphant... Keith tending to Ewen in the shieling and feeling guilty that he can't tend to him further. Fetch my fainting couch.

For officers, as Major Guthrie must know, were not shot in cold blood — now. That now does a lot of heavy lifting, and it's a great example of how Broster manages to say a lot with very little sometimes. And then Keith having to barter so heavily for Ewen's life — other people commented on it, I believe, but it really makes it understandable why he wishes so badly to go back to Flanders, to 'civilised' war where officers are treated as equals across the lines because they belong to recognised governments. Guthrie is such a bastard, and while I hate him and want to see him thrown off a cliff I also enjoy just how much of an awful man he is. One of the things I find fascinating about Broster's writing is the juxtapositions she sets up: Guthrie's speculations over Keith's guilt over seducing some female relative of Ewen's, and Keith's desire to save Ewen's life for an entirely different reason (well, perhaps not entirely different. But I rather think that Guthrie has the wrong end of that stick, and probably all the best for Keith, because if Guthrie suspected something between Keith and Ewen he would not be kind about it).

The shieling chapter is absolutely gorgeous. I didn't think that Broster would actually have Keith go back to tend to Ewen — surely that was a step too far. And yet she DID. I like how Keith, whose temperament does not seem to run to gentleness, is, in fact, quite capable of tenderness, helping Ewen eat and drink, reassuring him... I find it quite lovely how Keith asks Ewen's permission to tend to his wounds. It's such a quiet, intimate scene. And then, when Ewen faints... But five minutes saw the end of the snatch of feverish slumber, for Ardroy woke with a little cry and some remark about the English artillery which showed that he had been back at Culloden Moor. However, he knew Keith instantly[...]. It's a small shift in their relationship, but a significant one, especially when you consider that ng gur irel raq bs gur abiry, jura Xrvgu vf qlvat, jr unir gur ybiryl dhbgr: Nf ur jnf yvsgrq, Xrvgu pnzr onpx sebz n zbzrag’f qernz bs n fuber jvgu ybat terra ebyyref ebnevat ybhqyl haqre n oybbq-erq fhafrg, gb cnva naq qvssvphyg oerngu naq Rjra’f nezf. Ur xarj uvz.

There is so much I like about this chapter. I'm a little prejudiced towards it because I have sat with it, writing alongside it for my fic, but it's so wonderful, Keith acting as the Good Samaritan, Ewen having his faith in humanity restored somewhat after those awful, heartbreaking weeks. And then Keith trying, and failing, to work out just what his relationship to Ewen is — it's sublime.

[regshoe]

Yes, I wonder if Guthrie is something of a representation of historical figures like Caroline Scott and similar—I've seen the point made in history books several times that, despite the popular Scotland vs. England framing of things, some of the worst perpetrators of the repression of the Highlands were Lowland Scots. But then again Lowland support for the Jacobites also seems to be overlooked historically (and so is Highland anti-Jacobitism)—it is all very complicated.

Very insightful thoughts on Keith's position here, and I like your idea that Keith's ambition has become his fatal flaw. There's definitely a point somewhere in there about the wider consequences of Keith's rejection of personal love (if he had a passion left in life, it was military ambition)—it's not just a matter of it hurting him emotionally—and it then becomes very significant that his recognition of Ewen is what drives him to intervene in the execution.

The clan tartans seem to be the one place Broster's meticulous historical accuracy falls down—I wonder if it was really known at the time that they were a Victorian invention. My understanding is that, while official tartans used to identify specific clans didn't exist, there were consistent regional variations in the patterns made—so perhaps Keith is recognising a particular Lochaber tartan design that all the Camerons from the area around Ardroy wear?

Fetch my fainting couch.

:D

Oh, the intimacy of the shieling scene, yes... with sanguinity's earlier comments on the parallels between Keith and Alison in mind, I think there's something very significant in Keith seeing Ewen sleep, and hearing him talk in his sleep, here... hmm, this book does subtext in the fun blatant way and also in the more subtle and meaningful way, and I'm appreciating the latter much more in this read-through. Very good point about the parallel with that bit later on, too!

[tgarnsl]

I'd agree with your suggestion that Guthrie is a bit of a composite of historical figures, or at the very least historical attitudes, although he has yet to go so far as drowning rebels in a net, as I believe Scott was accused of. That being said, he's perfectly capable of it, and I don't think sanguinity is out of line by calling him Major War Crimes!

I'm inclined, for my own sanity, to assume that when Keith recognises 'Cameron tartan' he's really recognising just whatever pattern is common to the region. I first read about the Sobieski Stuarts and the Tartan Scam as a kid and ever since then it has remained one of my major pet peeves when it comes to people misunderstanding Scottish culture. And yet for all that it's not really a part of historic Scottish culture, it has become such a strong invented tradition that it's everywhere now, and we'll never be rid of it.

Alison and Keith are both paralleled and also set up against each other in quite interesting ways. They are both meaningful people to Ewen in significant but different ways, although there's also this ambiguity to Keith and Ewen's relationship that makes it feel at times almost like — well, I don't want to say soulmates per se, but what with the prophecy and this sense of being guided by fate towards each other while also thwarted by circumstance it feels at times like there is a star-crossed element to their relationship. (Although one could argue the same for Alison and Ewen too.)

[impala_chick]

Yes, I get soulmate vibes too. Keith and Ewen are both so surprised every time they cross paths but the interactions are always significant.

[luzula]

I have to say, I do wonder at the whole recoginising-the-Cameron-tartan thing, as the concept of clan tartans is a semi-fictionalised Victorian concept (damned Sobieski Stuarts), although it's entirely possible that he recognises it on the basis of it being like the one he wore earlier (Keith in a kilt is still the funniest part of the book).

I am just now reading (or browsing, really) History of Everyday Life in Scotland, 1600 to 1800 by Foyster and Whatley (2010) and they say: Another impact of empire on the clothing of the Scots was seen in the formalisation of clan tartans, which evolved in conjunction with the militarisation of the Highlands post-1745 and the empire service of so many Highland regiments. Regimental tartans with their clan associations had become fashion fabrics by the later 18th century, worn by men and women alike and spawning a modern manufacturing industry.

Which is interesting! And I remember reading about the Black Watch even before the '45, and the 'dark government tartan' that they wore, so it seems that military use was standardizing tartans even before the '45. Although of course that isn't a clan tartan.

[regshoe]

Hmm, that is interesting! The post-Jacobite militarisation of the Highlands is a strange, sad and fascinating story, and I suppose it makes sense that the tartans would fit into that (weren't military uniforms the one exception made to the 1746 act prohibiting Highland dress?).

Sounds like an interesting book in general, too—is it good?

[luzula]

Well, there were other exceptions--women could wear Highland dress all they wanted. Also, it seems allowances were made for poor people, which I've read elsewhere as well. Quote from the book:

"This is how the legislation was interpreted by James Erskine, sheriff depute for Perthshire, writing to his sheriff substitute at Killin: You may take all the opportunities you can of letting it be known that tartan may still be worne in cloaks, westcoats, breeches or trews, but that if they use loose plaids they may [be] of tartan but either all of one colour, or strip’ed with other colours than those formerly used, and if they have a mind to use their old plaids, I don’t see but they may make them into the shape of a cloak and so wear them in that way, which tho’ button’d or tied about the neck, if long enough, may be taken up at one side and thrown over the other shoulder by which it will answere most of the purposes of the loose plaid. And if they could come in to the way of wearing wide trowsers like the sailor’s breeches it would answere all the conveniences of the kilt and philibeg for walking or climbing the hills."

And there's this: "Those who commented on the passing of the Highland plaid and philibeg were not always that interested in the politics of the matter. A gentlewoman poet, Margaret Campbell, an Argyllshire minister’s wife who wrote in Gaelic, was more concerned with the aesthetics of masculinity than the Stuart cause when she noted that Highland women were being denied the sight of their men folk’s naked legs."

Hee. Presumably a Presbyterian minister's wife, too, since she's a Campbell! Not what I would have expected. : )

As for the book, I'm skimming it for useful details--some of it is rather dry and perhaps more general than I want.

[regshoe]

Thanks for the quotes, that is very interesting stuff. Hmm, that letter sounds a lot like trying to interpret the letter of the law as accommodatingly as possible. I suppose people had different perspectives on things—Margaret Campbell's is certainly another one :D

[tgarnsl]

Oh, that's interesting about the Black Watch. I wonder how much of it was intentional and how much was practical — viz. that if one is looking to have a standard of dress amongst one's soldiers, the most sensible solution is to have them manufactured in the same place, resulting in the same design, instead of simply having the same design replicated (if that makes any sense). With regards to the Cameron tartan, or what Keith thinks is the Cameron tartan, I am willing to explain it away as a regional style, rather than one specifically associated with a clan.