Orientalism during the British Romantic Era: The Representation of the Knighthood of Saladin in Sir Walter Scott’s The Talisman (1825)

Abstract

This extended essay tries to give an analysis to the knighthood of the character Saladin as presented in the historical novel The Talisman (1825), authored by the founding father of the historical fiction Sir Walter Scott during the nineteenth century. This historical narrative aims at tackling the famous Muslim hero and Knight Saladin as named by Westerners and Salah Al-Dine as known to the Easterners mainly The Arabs and Muslims. To deal with such a topic, the researcher finds it necessary to follow a historical, literary, descriptive and analytical approach. In doing so, the research paper under study is divided into two chapters. As for the first one, the student attempts to talk about Orientalism and the Rise of the Oriental Romantic Tale during the 19th century. As far as the second chapter is concerned, the investigator tries to tackle to some degree the Analysis of Walter Scott’s View of Saladin, shedding light on his benevolent and chivalric attitudes toward his enemies. Undoubtedly, the author eulogizes the knighthood of the historical figure and this is clear in considering him superior to the English monarch. As a conclusion, it can be said that Saladin was really a great hero whom both Muslim and Christian worlds honored.