Wandering Willie's Tale
Encyclopedia
From Redgauntlet
,
Wandering Willie’s Tale
Sir Walter Scott
was a prolific Scottish historical novel
ist and poet and was considered one of the elite European writers during the early 19th century. His works varied throughout his career and ultimately led him to compose the Waverley Novels
(which are a long series of books
) among them, Redgauntlet, which was published in 1824. “Wandering Willie’s Tale,” by Sir Walter Scott, first appeared in Redgauntlet; the tale is not directly part of the action of the novel, but rather a story told by one character to another. In this tale, Wandering Willie, a blind fiddler, tells Darsi Latimer, (the novel's protagonist) a cautionary tale
, warning him to be wary of whose company he accepts on his travels, for even a friendly traveler may turn out to be the devil in disguise.
The book begins by describing Sir Robert Redgauntlet, who, along with being extremely well off, is feared by many men and compared to the devil. However, he is well liked by his tenants because he treats them better than most lairds, or lords, and tends to be lenient with rent. Despite Sir Robert’s wealth, the revolution has pressured him to insist all of his tenants pay their rent on time. This is a substantial problem for Steenie Steenson, a tenant of Sir Robert’s who is poor and struggles to pay his rent. Steenson is able to convince his neighbor to lend him the rent money and makes his way to Sir Robert’s castle. In the process of paying rent, Sir Robert suddenly cries out that he is burning and dies before he is able to produce a receipt for Steenson. This becomes the central conflict of the story when Sir John Redgauntlet arrives to see to his father’s estate and claims that Steenson has yet to pay his rent.
Steenson pleads his case before Sir John but is defeated and is sent home to produce the money. On his travel back Steenson comes across a stranger who sympathizes with his situation and claims that he may be able to help; he claims that Sir Robert is disturbed by the trouble he has caused, and if Steenie will follow him, he will get his receipt. Having no other choice Steenson reluctantly agrees and follows the stranger to a clearing. In the clearing, Steenie sees a replica of Redgauntlet Castle surrounded by merriment and dancing. He knocks on the door to find Dougal, Sir Robert’s dead butler, and takes Steenie to Sir Robert, but before doing so, warns him not to eat or drink anything while he is there.
In Sir Robert’s presence, Steenie is morally confronted by temptation from Sir Robert and soon realizes that he may indeed be the devil. Sir Robert begs Steenie to play his pipes as he had in the past, and to eat, for no full man should keep another hungry. Taking Dougal’s advice, Steenie refuses and explains that he will only perform for God’s pleasure and not for that of the Devil. Upon those words Steenie is engulfed in darkness and soon awakes lying on the grass, but with the receipt clenched in his fist. He is able to take the receipt to Sir John and pay his debts.
The confrontation between Steenie and Sir Robert showcases that between good and evil
. Despite devilish temptation, Steenie’s character and good-will allow him to disregard Sir Robert’s offerings and stand up to the devil, so to say. This moral dilemma
leaves Steenie feeling threatened by Sir Robert’s ghost and causes him to seek council. His conscience is settled though when the priest tells Steenie he has done the right thing by not playing the pipes or partaking in the food or drink offered in that place because it would symbolize the acceptance and worshiping of the devil. The priest believes that Steenie’s soul is safe from the devil so long as he does not revisit that place or accept the devil's temptation.
Redgauntlet
Redgauntlet is a historical novel by Sir Walter Scott, set in Dumfries, Scotland in 1765, and described by Magnus Magnusson as "in a sense, the most autobiographical of Scott's novels." It describes the beginnings of a fictional third Jacobite Rebellion, and includes "Wandering Willie's Tale", a...
,
Wandering Willie’s Tale
Sir Walter Scott
Walter Scott
Sir Walter Scott, 1st Baronet was a Scottish historical novelist, playwright, and poet, popular throughout much of the world during his time....
was a prolific Scottish historical novel
Historical novel
According to Encyclopædia Britannica, a historical novel is-Development:An early example of historical prose fiction is Luó Guànzhōng's 14th century Romance of the Three Kingdoms, which covers one of the most important periods of Chinese history and left a lasting impact on Chinese culture.The...
ist and poet and was considered one of the elite European writers during the early 19th century. His works varied throughout his career and ultimately led him to compose the Waverley Novels
Waverley (novel)
Waverley is an 1814 historical novel by Sir Walter Scott. Initially published anonymously in 1814 as Scott's first venture into prose fiction, Waverley is often regarded as the first historical novel. It became so popular that Scott's later novels were advertised as being "by the author of...
(which are a long series of books
Book series
A book series is a sequence of books having certain characteristics in common that are formally identified together as a group. Book series can be organized in different ways, such as written by the same author, or marketed as a group by their publisher....
) among them, Redgauntlet, which was published in 1824. “Wandering Willie’s Tale,” by Sir Walter Scott, first appeared in Redgauntlet; the tale is not directly part of the action of the novel, but rather a story told by one character to another. In this tale, Wandering Willie, a blind fiddler, tells Darsi Latimer, (the novel's protagonist) a cautionary tale
Cautionary tale
A cautionary tale is a tale told in folklore, to warn its hearer of a danger. There are three essential parts to a cautionary tale, though they can be introduced in a large variety of ways. First, a taboo or prohibition is stated: some act, location, or thing is said to be dangerous. Then, the...
, warning him to be wary of whose company he accepts on his travels, for even a friendly traveler may turn out to be the devil in disguise.
The book begins by describing Sir Robert Redgauntlet, who, along with being extremely well off, is feared by many men and compared to the devil. However, he is well liked by his tenants because he treats them better than most lairds, or lords, and tends to be lenient with rent. Despite Sir Robert’s wealth, the revolution has pressured him to insist all of his tenants pay their rent on time. This is a substantial problem for Steenie Steenson, a tenant of Sir Robert’s who is poor and struggles to pay his rent. Steenson is able to convince his neighbor to lend him the rent money and makes his way to Sir Robert’s castle. In the process of paying rent, Sir Robert suddenly cries out that he is burning and dies before he is able to produce a receipt for Steenson. This becomes the central conflict of the story when Sir John Redgauntlet arrives to see to his father’s estate and claims that Steenson has yet to pay his rent.
Steenson pleads his case before Sir John but is defeated and is sent home to produce the money. On his travel back Steenson comes across a stranger who sympathizes with his situation and claims that he may be able to help; he claims that Sir Robert is disturbed by the trouble he has caused, and if Steenie will follow him, he will get his receipt. Having no other choice Steenson reluctantly agrees and follows the stranger to a clearing. In the clearing, Steenie sees a replica of Redgauntlet Castle surrounded by merriment and dancing. He knocks on the door to find Dougal, Sir Robert’s dead butler, and takes Steenie to Sir Robert, but before doing so, warns him not to eat or drink anything while he is there.
In Sir Robert’s presence, Steenie is morally confronted by temptation from Sir Robert and soon realizes that he may indeed be the devil. Sir Robert begs Steenie to play his pipes as he had in the past, and to eat, for no full man should keep another hungry. Taking Dougal’s advice, Steenie refuses and explains that he will only perform for God’s pleasure and not for that of the Devil. Upon those words Steenie is engulfed in darkness and soon awakes lying on the grass, but with the receipt clenched in his fist. He is able to take the receipt to Sir John and pay his debts.
The confrontation between Steenie and Sir Robert showcases that between good and evil
Goodness and evil
In religion, ethics, and philosophy, the dichotomy "good and evil" refers to the location on a linear spectrum of objects, desires, or behaviors, the good direction being morally positive, and the evil direction morally negative. Good is a broad concept but it typically deals with an association...
. Despite devilish temptation, Steenie’s character and good-will allow him to disregard Sir Robert’s offerings and stand up to the devil, so to say. This moral dilemma
Ethical dilemma
An Ethical dilemma is a complex situation that will often involve an apparent mental conflict between moral imperatives, in which to obey one would result in transgressing another....
leaves Steenie feeling threatened by Sir Robert’s ghost and causes him to seek council. His conscience is settled though when the priest tells Steenie he has done the right thing by not playing the pipes or partaking in the food or drink offered in that place because it would symbolize the acceptance and worshiping of the devil. The priest believes that Steenie’s soul is safe from the devil so long as he does not revisit that place or accept the devil's temptation.