Customer Reviews

Ivanhoe

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This beautiful magnum opus marks the peak of Sir Walter Scott's career. It recounts a touching love story between a Saxon knight (Sir Wilfred of Ivanhoe), disinherited by his father Cedric for joining King Richard's banner in the Holy Wars. The book begins as the dashing Wilfred returns to England to claim his love, the beautiful Lady Rowena. Thrown in the thrilling plot of wars and captives between the Richard camp and Prince John's camp are two climaxing characters: Rebecca and her father, Isaac of York, both Jews.
Set against this background of romance and chivalry, Rebecca and her father are persecuted for their religion and ethnicity. Rebecca, the beautiful Jewess, proves her magninimity and dignity more than once in the book.
Although the book may be read merely as an adventure, there is a clear expression of Scott's sentiments regarding discrimination, especially towards the end.
Although the book is named Ivanhoe, Rebecca clearly has a fair share of the spotlight and using her beautiful character, Scott expresses his dislike and contempt of persecution and discrimination of others.
The message of this book still applies to our world today, and since Scott manages to make this book fascinatingly interesting as well as subtly metaphorical, I recommend this to all who are interested in adventure and meaning.