I don’t expect this discussion to be finished tonight, not even this week.
For background, I just watched it for the first time all the way to the end. It took courage for me because I don’t like the battle scenes, blood and gore.
But I did see so many correlations to our forefathers fighting the American Revolution, and even the Civil War.
I’m left with William Wallace’s war cry …”FREEDOM”!
So what does that really mean?
Freedom to chose a product on Amazon that is most likely made outside America, or freedom to express yourself as an individual without persecution? Or freedom from anyone telling you that you must follow their lead so you can “win”…
There are so many thoughts to reflect on from watching this movie.
I would like others who have seen the movie to give their thoughts.
The movie has definitely been written for an American audience.
My partner's family has Scottish roots. So, the movie was basically a target for derision in our household. For one thing, there is no way that anyone would have evoked the ideas of freedom, like that, BEFORE the American habbenings. For another, WW was a man of few words, so the eloquent, rousing speech of freedom, was completely out of character. Also, WW was 6'7" and brutishly built, to be played by a well proportioned actor only 5'9" tall. HAHAH. And to top it all off, William Wallace was not popular, because he was lawless and brutal. Certainly he magicked a fighting force of rabble who were impressed by his stature and brutality, and so he was useful in repelling the English.
But afterwards, he was useful not so much, as he had no idea on how to run anything but murder. And so, on 23rd August 1305 Wallace was found guilty of treason and sentenced to death in London. He was executed using one of the most brutal punishments in the medieval era: hung, drawn, and quartered. His bits were displayed all over Scotland.
So, the story you see on the screen is fiction. Enjoyable, but not historically correct by any means.
I’m interested in what you have to say. As I begin my research into the battle between England And Scotland, do you have resources I can study?
There were many battles, and powerplays, stretching back to Hadrian, the Roman who built a wall to keep the heathen Scots out of civilization.
I would start with some videos, like from the History channel, or any youtube video about Edward 1. Beware, as the subject is very interesting and bleeds into the War of the Roses, the Elizabethans, Bonnie Prince Charlie etc. etc. Even Shakespeare is a source for the Kings here, as many of his plays were based on historical fact. For example, MacBeth (11 Century) was a real person:
https://www.historytoday.com/archive/real-macbeth-king-scots-1040-1054#:~:text=Shakespeare's%20Macbeth%2C%20king%20of%20scots,somewhere%20in%20Moray%E2%80%94in%201040.
But if Edward 1 is the main interest, there is a play by George Peele called The Famous Chronicle of King Edward the First
However, you might need to supplement watching as many videos as you can, by reading some academic work, as they often show-case different historians and therefore perspectives.
Well, they did portray the drawn and quarter scene, and gave an epilogue to such that all his remains were scattered across England as a warning.
I don’t for a minute think this is even remotely historical except for the idea of him being a rebellious helicon of certain Scottish nature.
But I do still have all the questions about humanity I listed above.
Interesting what you said above. I see that you espouse communal values, just as socialists do, which is admirable. However, there will always be people who do not agree with you - especially in this polarized political world. Then you cite self-preservation which is a conservative value, and admirable as well. Again there are grey areas where self-preservation can be viewed as just selfish, for example when the instinct is turned into war-profiteering - not saying that you are like that, but that this is what the American MIC is based on - self-preservation of the Arms manufacturers. It is an extreme.
Then you point out the third limb, which is, IMO, the only way forward for this world, and that is a religious foundation. Of course there are differences between religions, and these must be accepted somehow. Perhaps we can all see the good parts and agree to disagree?
You actually dissected my whole thought process impeccably. I have so many thoughts to consider right now.