But why pursue the common tale? Or wherefore show how knights prevail, when ladies dare to hear?

But why pursue the common tale? Or wherefore show how knights prevail, when ladies dare to hear?

In the context of Walter Scott, the quote "But why pursue the common tale? Or wherefore show how knights prevail, when ladies dare to hear?" speaks to the idea of challenging traditional gender roles and expectations in storytelling. Scott, a prominent Scottish novelist and poet, was known for his historical romances that often featured strong female characters who defied societal norms.

Throughout his works, Scott portrayed women as complex and independent individuals who were not simply passive damsels in distress waiting to be rescued by knights in shining armor. Instead, his female characters were often portrayed as active participants in the narrative, capable of making their own decisions and shaping their own destinies.

By questioning the value of "the common tale" and challenging the notion that stories must revolve around the heroic deeds of knights, Scott was able to create a more inclusive and diverse literary landscape that reflected the complexities of human experience. He recognized that women were just as capable as men of facing challenges, overcoming obstacles, and achieving greatness.

In many of Scott's works, such as "Ivanhoe" and "The Bride of Lammermoor," female characters play pivotal roles in driving the plot forward and shaping the outcome of the story. These women are not simply passive objects of desire or symbols of virtue, but fully realized individuals with their own desires, motivations, and agency.

Scott's decision to focus on the experiences and perspectives of women in his writing was a radical departure from the prevailing literary conventions of his time. By daring to show how ladies prevail, he challenged the status quo and paved the way for future generations of writers to explore the complexities of gender and power in their own work.