SCOTT'S HEROINES.
ILTO TUE EDITOR OF THU "SPECTATOR."] SIR,—The article on the " Waverley Novels" in your issue of January 11th has reminded me of a fact which, so far as I know, has hitherto escaped attention. Scott's heroines, with the exception of Lucy Ashton, are all of them motherless. The point is certainly curious ; and perhaps (if I am right in supposing it to be a new one) you may think that it is worthy of notice. The accompanying extract is taken from an un- published paper of my own.—I am, Sir, &e., HERBERT R. ALLPORT.
"In Waverley' there are two heroines, Flora McIvor and Rose Bradwardine, who are both motherless. In 'Guy Mannering' there are also two heroines, Julia Mannering and Lucy Bertram, who are both motherless. In 'Rob Roy 'the heroine is Di Vernon, who is motherless. In 'Old Mortality' the heroine is Edith Bellenden, who is motherless. In The Heart of Midlothian' the heroine is Jeanie Deans, who is motherless. In 'Ivanhoe' there are again two heroines, Rebecca and Rowena, who are both motherless. In 'Kenilworth' the heroine is Amy Robsart, who is motherless. In The Pirate' the heroines are Minna and Brenda Troil, who are motherless. In 'The Fortunes of Nigel' the heroine is Margaret Ramsay, who is motherless. In Quentin Durward' the heroine is Isabelle, Countess of Croye, who is motherless. In Woodstock' the heroine is Alice Lee, who is motherless. In 'The Fair Maid of Perth ' the heroine is Catherine Glover, who is motherless. I need not go through the entire list. I believe that Lucy Ashton is the only exception of note."
Previous page
