Images:

What scene does the image of Lady Randolph depict? What does this image “highlight” about the play?

Title page:

What is depicted on the title page? How does this image relate to the play? Note that this version of the play is published in Manchester and also sold in London.

Prologue:

Prologues were spoken before the play began, sometimes by an actor, sometimes by the author himself – the Prologue serves as an introduction of the theme and topic of the play. The Prologue could also change, depending on where the play was being presented. This Prologue, obviously designed for an English audience, situates the play “in ancient times, when Britain’s trade was arms” and focuses on the two families of the Percy’s (English) and the Douglas’s (Scottish). What does this Prologue suggest about the relationship between these families? How does it depict the nations of England, Scotland and Britain?

The Prologue veers sharply from setting the scene historically to pointing to the character of Lady Randolph on stage. What is the effect of this abrupt change?

The Prologue also suggests that Lady Randolph begs the audience’s “tear.” Think of Smollett’s The Tears of Scotland here.

Act 1, scene i:

The play begins in the “Court of a Castle, surrounded by Woods.”

Lady Randolph is the first character we meet. She is married to Lord Randolph, but she is from the house of Malcolm. The Malcolm and the Douglas family are both Scottish noble families who have been at war with one another for a long time.

Lines 1-22: Look at the first lines in which Lady Randolph addresses the “Woods and wilds.” She notes that the gloom of the natural world "accords" with her "soul's sadness." How does her depiction of nature compare with that of Ramsay in The Gentle Shepherd? Do you see similarities and differences between Lady R’s relationship to nature and that of the speaker of Thomson’s “Winter”? She cries out to her previous husband, Douglas's spirit (we find out later that she married Douglas in secret) and laments his death and the loss of her son by him (we later find out that she had the son in secret, then he was lost to her). She says that although she is actually mourning them, she pretends to be mourning her brother, Malcolm. Although she is married to Lord Randolph, she still regards herself as belonging to her husband, Douglas.

Lines 23-42 Enter Lord Randolph. He is concerned that Lady Randolph is living too much in the past; she has been mourning her brother for the seven years during which the Randolphs have been married.

42-72: Lady Randolph says that it is not her fault. Her affections had been "frozen" for a long time before their marriage. It was only after an attempt to rape [by Glenalvon, as we find out later] her that her father, Sir Malcolm, begged her to marry before he died. She turned to Lord Randolph, who had saved her "from violence and outrage," and asked him to let her leave a "single, solitary life." She implies that it is his fault for persisting in marrying her. Lord Randolph agrees, but wishes he could stop her grieving. He regrets that she is composed of "grief and tenderness alone" and has not other passions in her: "pride, anger, vanity" and a desire to be admired might help to combat her grief.

73-88: Lady R replies that the "human mind" experiences "transient calm" because of such contending passions, but that she doesn't envy this calm. Lord R expresses surprise that she is the daughter of her father – because Sir Malcolm was a man of strong passions. Lord R notes that Sir Malcolm was happy that when his son was killed, Douglas' son, his enemy, also died. Lady Randolph blames the passions that led to the feud between her family and that of the Douglas family for causing her family's demise.

89-136: Lord R says he never expected that Lady R would love him, but hoped that she would be affectionate and kind. He wonders whether she would cry if he were killed by the invading Danish army. Lady R replies that she esteems him. She asks him where he is going, and he replies that he is going to the camp where they are awaiting news of the Danish landing. Lady R hopes the winds drive the Danish ships home. Lord R hopes they all make directly for Scotland so the Scots can prove their superiority. Lady R says she hates war, but war with a foreign enemy is not as bad as the wars between Scotland and England which have resulted in the slaughter of the youth of both nations. Lord R says he won't listen any more because he fears losing his warrior's attitude. He departs.

137-250: Anna, Lady R's lady-in-waiting enters. She is also concerned about Lady R's sadness. She asks if Lady R is mourning so deeply for her brother, how would she have acted if she'd lost a husband. This touches a chord with Lady R who decides to make her her confidante. Lady R recounts how her brother saved the life of young Douglas on the battlefield one day and the two became friends. Douglas came to visit in disguise and she fell in love with him and married him. Three weeks later, both Malcolm and Douglas went off to fight. Lady R's father found out that the stranger under his roof was a Douglas, and questioned her. She perjured herself and swore that she would never wed one of the Douglas family. A few days later, she found out that both young Malcolm and young Douglas were slain and that she was pregnant. The priest who had married her was killed with Malcolm, and so she resolved to keep silent about her secret marriage. When her child was born, she sent him with her nurse to the nurse's sister's house. She never heard of either of them again. Anna tries to be encouraging.

263-end: Glenalvon, the heir of Lord R enters. Lady R doesn't like him. She says that he is very good at dissimulating. She exits. Glenalvon asks Anna what she is meditating on, and she replies she is thinking about Lady R's grief. Glenalvon's soliloquy indicates that it was he who had tried to abduct Lady R, but Lord R saved him. But Glenalvon told Lady R he loved her, and is afraid she will pass the information on to Lord R. He plans to kill Lord R.

Act II:

Lines 1-131: Lady Randolph hears noise. A stranger enters with Lord R. Lord R was set upon by four armed men, but the stranger saved him. Lady R asks who the stranger is. The stranger replies that his name is Norval and that he is the son of a shepherd on the Grampian Hills and that he wants to be a soldier. He has had previous experience with battle and recounts the time recently when he fought off some "barbarians" who had tried to carry off his father's sheep. After that point, he left the shepherd life and sought to join the battle against the Danes, taking with him a servant from his father's house. This servant ran off when Norval was rescuing Lord R. Lord R says he wants to promote Norval. Lady R starts crying. When Lord R questions her about her tears, she says she is moved by the sudden change of fortune for the young man. Lord R makes Norval head in command, equal to Glenalvon. Lord R says he must hurry to the military camp and invites Norval to come with him. Lord R says that joy is sweeter to a soldier when he reflects that he may never experience it again. Lord R and Norval exit.

132-195: Lady R reflects back on Douglas. Although Anna asks heaven to give her peace, Lady R says that the only peace she can have is when she is dead. She imagines Norval's mother's happiness in giving birth to him and raising him and contrasts it to her own unhappiness. Anna says she thought that Norval had made Lady R temporarily forget her grief. Lady R says that she couldn't help but think that the son of Douglas would look like Norval, and she felt very protective of him. She also fears what Glenalvon's reaction to a rival will be.

196-244: Glenalvon enters and feigns concern for Lord R. He says he has the woods surrounded to capture the aggressors and will torture them to find out if an enemy of Lord R's hired them. Anna exits, and Lady R confronts Glenalvon with his guilt. He is amazed that she has found him out. He tells her that he did it all for love of her. Lady R is unmoved and warns him not to harm Norval. She exits.

245-end: Glenalvon chides himself for being afraid and cowed by Lady R and implies he has changed: "I am not what I have been; what I should be." He meditates on the fact that every scheme he has tried has gone against him. He calls the powers of "hate, ambition and revenge" to him, rejects the idea of chance and fate, and states that he will persevere. His instrument in seeking revenge on Norval will be the servant who deserted him.

Act III:

Lines 1-225: Anna again asks the powers of heaven to help assuage Lady R's grief. A servant enters saying that they have found one of the villains who assaulted Lord R in the woods. He says the man has committed a previous crime because they found jewels concealed on his person. Anna recognizes the heart on the jewels as part of the crest of Douglas and goes off to find Lady R. The man is brought in, but denies he has done anything. The servant threatens him with torture. Enter Lady R and Anna. The man begs Lady R for mercy. She sends the servants away and asks him for his story. He says that he and his wife and four children were tenants of the old Sir Malcolm, but that they were turned off their land. They set up in a little hovel and tried to make a living. One stormy night, the man heard a cry for help and ran out to the stream to help. The person who cried out was lost, but he found an infant in a basket. Lady R. is noticeably upset by the man's story. He continues saying that he and his wife adopted the baby and that there were gold and jewels in the basket. The family travelled north and set up as shepherds, only gradually using their money. The man thinks they were punished for using the money because all of their own children died, and they were left with only their adopted son. Lady R asks his name, and he replies, "Norval." She cries out that he is her son. Anna counsels her to quiet down in case people suspect something. Old Norval guesses that she is Sir Malcolm's daughter and speaks highly of her father. Lady R says that he has saved their family. She asks him to go to a little hut nearby the cliffs of Carron and to stay with the old man there. She tells the servants that he is not a criminal.

226-end Lady R is ecstatic. Anna advises her to be cautious about how she acts with Norval in public because some people--including Lord R--may be suspicious. She says that she intends to meet with him that night in secret and tell him who his real parents are. Glenalvon enters with news that the Danes have landed on the coast of Lothian. Lady R laments the upcoming deaths of the Danes. Glenalvon tells Lady R he is a changed man and that he will protect Norval. She exits. Glenalvon plots about how he will use Norval to inspire Lord R's jealousy.

 Act IV:

Lines 1-318: Lord R and Lady R discuss the dangers of the huge Danish invasion. Norval and Glenalvon enter. Glen. asks Norval how he learned so much about war. Norval says that he learned it from a hermit who had once been a soldier in the Crusades and who had slain his brother by mistake. Lord R hears that Lord Lorn has joined the battle against the Danes, even though his own lands are far away. He send Glen. to entreat him to visit, but is told that Lorn is impatient to join the battle. Randolph exits. Lady R asks Norval/Douglas to talk with her in private under the beech tree. She shows him the jewels that were found with him and tells him that he is the son of Douglas and herself. She plans to ask the king to have Norval/Douglas's lands turned over to him and they plan to meet again. Exit Norval/Douglas. Enter Lord R and Glenalvon. Exit Lady R. Glenalvon has been telling Lord R that Lady R is in love with Norval and he is jealous. He produces a letter of assignation. Glenalvon tells Lord R to see for himself what is going on by going to the place where Douglas and Lady R plan to meet. He also says he is going to confront Norval and that if he is loved by Lady R, his deportment will be different than if he is just humble Norval. Lord R exits. Glenalvon expresses surprise that Lady R really does seem to be immodest.

Lines 319-end: Enter Norval/Douglas. Glenalvon arouses Norval/Douglas' ire by reminding him of his humble birth. Norval/Douglas draws his sword against Glenalvon, but is stopped by the entrance of Lord R who tells them to use their energies against the enemy, not each other. Norval/Douglas vows that when he meets Glen. again, their combat will be mortal.

Act V:

Lines 1-end Douglas meets his foster father, Norval in the wood. Old Norval asks for forgiveness. Douglas still reveres Norval as his father and says growing up as a shepherd will help him have sympathy for the poor. Old Norval says that Lord R and Glen. are seeking Douglas' life. He interprets their discussion of a "wonderful discovery" to mean they know of Douglas' identity and want revenge because he is Sir Malcolm's air. Douglas says he trusts Sir R. He says he will wait for Lady R. Exit Old Norval and enter Lady R. She embraces Douglas. Douglas tells her that Norval said that Glen. and Lord R are trying to kill him because they know who he is. Lady R tells him to go to the military camp. Douglas says that he will go to the castle with her and ask the loyal servants to help them. Lady R says he must fly and Douglas agrees. They part with the realization that Douglas may be killed in battle like his father was. Douglas says he must go and fight for honour. Just as they are about to separate, Lord R and Glen. enter. Lord R goes to fight Douglas offstage. Douglas enters, saying that Glenalvon had struck him from behind but that he had killed Glenalvon. Douglas is wounded badly and laments that he did not fall in battle but instead slain by a villain. He dies. Enter Lord R and Anna, who has told him the truth. Lord R is shamed by what has happened, and imagines that people will think that he killed Sir Malcolm's heir basely and on purpose. Lady R recovers. Lord R proclaims his innocence because he did not know Douglas was Lady R's son. Lady R runs out. Anna exits after her. Old Norval enters and berates himself for not acknowledging the truth of Douglas' birth. He throws himself on Douglas' body. Anna enters with news that Lady R has thrown herself off the cliff. Lord R heads off to the battle with the Danes, hoping he will be killed.