Kenilworth by Walter Scott- An Analysis

Kenilworth

-by Walter Scott

Important Places and Characters

·         The village of Cumnnor

·         Bony Black Bear Inn

·         Giles Gosling- keeper of Bony Black Bear Inn

·         Cicely- daughter of Giles Gosling

·         Michael Lomborne- nephew of Giles Gosling

·         Laurence Goldthread- mercer (a merchant dealing in fabrics especially silks and other fine clothes

·         Edmund Tressilian of Cornwall- Lord Deputy of Ireland- agent of Monseiur – Duke of Medina

·         Anthony Forster- one who takes care of Amy in Abbot Residence

·         Janet- daughter of Anthony Forster

·         Abbot Residence- Once it was a monastry

·         Amy Robsart- Robert Dudley’s wife and daughter of Sir Hugh Robsart

·         Sir Hugh Robsart- Son of Old Roger Robsart

·         Devonshire- native place of Sir Hugh Robsart

·         Richard Varney- trusted assistant of Earl of Leicester

·         Dudley, Earl of Leicester- Queen’s favourite and husband of Amy

·         Wayland Smith- Trusted assistant of Edmund Tressilian

·         Doctor Doboobie @ Alasco- Demetrius

·         Michael Mumblazon- one who gives 300 pounds for filing the case against Earl of Leicester

·         Ratcliff, Earl of Sussex

·         Walter Raleigh

·         Blount- Knighted at Kenilworth

·         Staple

·         July 9, 1575

·         Master Domine Holiday- one who takes Tressilian to Wayland Smith.

·         Walter Raleigh- one who throws his cloak in front of the queen on the mud for the queen to walk.

Short Summary

The novel opens in Bony Black Bear Inn owned by Giles Gosling. He just welcomes his mischievous nephew Michael Lambourne on his return from Flanders. He boasts his services in the army. A party is arranged to celebrate the return of Lambourne. He invites the Cornishman, Tressilian, and other guests to drink with them. During the party Lambourne comes to know about a certain young lady under the steward Foster's charge at Cumnor Place. It was owned by the Earl of Leicester.  Tressilian and Lambourne visit the place. On arriving there Tressilian finds out that this lady is his former lady-love, Amy. He offers to take her home, but she refuses. As he is leaving, he quarrels with Richard Varney, the earl's squire. Varney announces the arrival of the Earl. He hands over Amy the gift sent by the Earl. During the visit of the Earl, Amy pleads to make their marriage public but he refuses the resentment of Elizabeth.

Varney employs Lambourne to spy Tressilian. Warned by his host, Tressilian leaves Cumnor by night and reaches the residence of Sir Hugh Robsart, Amy's father. Returning to London, Tressilian befriends Wayland Smith who cures the Earl of Sussex of a dangerous illness. They plan to bring Amy's case before the queen. When the case is brought in front of the queen, she asks both the Earl of Leicester and Earl of Sussex to forget their enmity and become friends. When Tressilian brings the case of Amy, Varney claims that Amy is his wife and saves Earl of Leicester

Wayland Smith manages to meet Amy informs her about the arrival of Elizabeth to Kenilworth and the rumour about the marriage between the queen and Leicester.  The queen commands Varney to be present in Kenilworth along with his wife Amy. Realizing the danger Varney informs the queen that Amy is unwell and produces medical certificate. By the mean time, Amy escapes with the help of Wayland Smith and reaches Kenilworth.

Amy writes a letter to the Earl in which she explains the situation which led her to come to Kenilworth and presents the evil motives of Varney. Unfortunately Wayland Smith misses that letter. By that time the Earl of Leicester proposes to marry the queen which is rejected by her. Receiving no reply to her note, Amy presents herself in front of the queen and seeks protection from Varney. Also, she claims that the Earl knows everything.  When the Earl is in danger, Varney rescues him by saying that she is mentally ill. The queen orders a medical examination by the royal physician.
         Both Leicester and Varney realize the possible danger. Varney influences the Earl and obtains permission to take Amy away from Kenilworth. The next witnesses the duel between Tressilian and the Earl. It was interrupted and the missing letter of Amy is given to the Earl. Now, the Earl understands the schemes of Varney and cries. He confesses to the queen about his secret marriage with Amy and seeks forgiveness. The queen orders to rescue Amy from the hands of Varney immediately. Sir Walter Raleigh and Tressilian proceed to Cumnor to save Amy.

Varney reaches Cumnor place first and sets a trap to kill Amy with the help of Anthony Forster. But Forster warns her not to come out of the room until the Earl comes. In the following evening when she hears whistle like the earl's signal, she tries to come out of the room. It unhooks the trap and she is killed in the mishap. The death of Amy halts all the celebrations in Kenilworth. Varney dies in prison by consuming poison. Amy’s father Sir Hugh Robsart settles all his properties to Tressilian and dies very soon after his daughter. Leicester is recalled to the court after a short break. Walter Raleigh rises in rank and power. Tressilian looks very dejected and looks older than his age. He goes to Virginia in America along with Walter Raleigh and dies young. Wayland Smith marries Janet and lives happily. Anthony Forster’s skeleton was found in the secret room found nearby Amy’s room after several years. He had gold bars in his hands.

Historical Aspects

·         The novel is set against the time of Queen Elizabeth.

·         Scott uses historical characters but meddles with the facts.

·         But he presents the spirit of the age effectively and portrays them realistically.

·         There are many inaccuracies in the facts presented in the novel.

·         Amy was married by the Earl openly. It was not a secret marriage as presented in the novel.

·         Critics say: “Scott always treated history with perfect disregard of inconvenient facts and dates.

·         A Spanish ambassador of that time records: “Lord Robert Dudley’s wife had a breast cancer and the queen only waits till she dies to marry him”.

·         Some other critics claim that Amy was not ill and she struggled hard to protect herself from being poisoned.

·         In reality, Varney and Anthony Forster are very good friends.

·         There was no person named Wayland Smith in history. It was just a legend.

       Power Conflicts in Kenilworth

·         The queen is the ultimate authority of the country. So, the queen decides everything in the country.

·         Queen Elizabeth keeps the Lords at equal distance. Scot claims that Earl of Sussex was very dear to the Queen whereas Leicester very dear to the woman. She follows divide and rule policy.  “The Earl of Sussex had been most serviceable to the queen, while Leicester was most dear to the woman” (132).

·         Varney’s view on the queen: “...God when he gave her the heart of a woman, gave her the head of a man to control its follies” (184).

·         “Queen Elizabeth had a character strangely compounded of the strongest masculine sense, with those foibles which are chiefly supposed proper to the female sex...She was the nursing mother of her people, but she was also a true daughter of Henry VIII” (210).

·         The queen sustains the enmity between the Earls secretly in order to have better control over them.

·         She encourages Leicester to propose to her but snubs him when he does it and says “I must be the mother of my people...Elizabeth must be the wife and mother of England alone” (317).

·         But when Leicester confesses of his secret marriage with Amy, the queen tells him “My Lord of Leicester’s stolen marriage has cost me a husband, and England a King. His Lordship is patriarchal in his tastes – one wife at a tiem was insufficient , and he designed Us the honour of his left hand” (375-76).

·         Varney and Tressilian are at permanent conflict. The former is with Sussex and the latter is with Leicester.

Varney

·         “This man was highly qualified by nature to discharge the part in which he found himself placed, being discreet and cautious on one hand, and on the other, quick, keen witted, an imaginative” (62).

·         Janet says about Varney: “Only the convenient cloak of his master’s pleasures” (235).