A Key, A Bonnie Bridegroom, and an Ower True Tale

Summary of the Talk:

The lecture examines the novel The Bride of Lammermoor by Sir Walter Scott, focusing on its themes, editorial challenges, and textual analysis. Here is a summary of the key points:

1. Introduction to the Editorial Process: Dr. Alexander begins by reflecting on the editing process, particularly when working on the Edinburgh Edition of the Waverley Novels. He relates his experience of editing The Bride of Lammermoor, illustrating the challenge of returning to a text and the significance of details only becoming clear after editing.
2. The Key: The first theme explored is the symbolic and practical role of the "bridal key" in the story. The editor faces the challenge of explaining why Henry, the bride’s-man, holds the key to the bridal chamber, especially as Scott’s text doesn’t clarify this fully. Dr. Alexander discusses potential explanations, such as old Scottish folk customs, and notes that there is no clear evidence supporting this tradition outside of Scott’s work. The key itself plays an important role in the narrative, bringing the work full circle and connecting to the larger themes of life, death, and marriage, particularly in relation to Edgar Ravenswood’s role in the story.
3. Lucy’s Final Words - "Bonnie Bridegroom": The second theme focuses on Lucy's final words, "So, you have ta’en up your bonnie bridegroom", which are crucial for understanding her character and the narrative structure. Dr. Alexander points out how Lucy’s last utterance in Scots, before her madness, contrasts with her usual speech in standard English, marking a shift in her character. This moment is linked to the novel’s broader exploration of the tension between societal expectations (the symbolic order) and personal expression, especially through Lucy’s singing.
4. The Editorial Challenge of Punctuation: The lecture also delves into the editorial issues surrounding punctuation in Scott’s manuscripts. Dr. Alexander discusses how punctuation changes can alter the tone and interpretation of Lucy’s final words, specifically the difference between a statement and a question, and how this reflects the challenge of balancing fidelity to Scott’s intentions with editorial decisions.
5. "An Ower True Tale": The final section of the lecture deals with the phrase "An Ower True Tale", discussing its origins, its significance in the text, and the role of editor James Ballantyne in this aspect of the novel. Dr. Alexander notes the editorial influence of Ballantyne in shaping the Scottish tone of the text and explores the use of Scots in the narrative.
6. Concluding Remarks: The lecture concludes with a reflection on Scott's style, particularly his endings, which are often critiqued but, in Dr. Alexander's view, are full of surprises and nuances. The final lines of the novel, with a "double ending," serve to emphasize the themes of death, legacy, and the consequences of societal norms, making a powerful conclusion to the story.

Interesting Points:

1. Symbolism of the Key: The key is a pivotal symbol that ties together themes of death, control, and entrapment. It also emphasizes the duality of marriage in the novel—both a union and a form of imprisonment.
2. Lucy’s Shift to Scots: The fact that Lucy switches to Scots in her last utterance is highly significant, as it symbolizes her break from societal expectations and her entry into madness. This shift reflects the themes of transgression and the tension between the oral and literate cultures in Scott’s work.
3. Editorial Decisions on Punctuation: The lecture highlights how small editorial decisions, such as punctuation, can change the reader's interpretation of a character’s speech, thus illustrating the impact of editorial work on literary analysis.
4. The Final Motto: The use of the obscure motto at the end of the novel, taken from an appendix of a heraldic book, is a brilliant way for Scott to reinforce the tragic nature of the story. It also emphasizes Scott’s knack for finding depth in seemingly minor details.

Dr. Alexander’s lecture showcases the intricate relationship between the text and its editorial decisions, and how those decisions influence the interpretation of Scott’s work. The detailed analysis of symbols, like the key and Lucy's final words, provides a deeper understanding of The Bride of Lammermoor, while also revealing the challenges of editing a text for modern readers.