Student Bloggers

We are only the decayed fragments of the Roman Empire from which we have all that we value ourselves upon, and I always believe we can never be so well employed as in endeavoring to understand as well as we can the original meaning of that system of things in whose ruins we live.” – Robert Louis Stevenson

I found the above quote while touring the Smith Institute in Stirling, Scotland during my homestay weeks ago. It resonated deeply with me, due to my interest in history and the concept that history repeats itself.

We all come from somewhere, and the quote I found is a reminder of that. It was settled on the wall amongst old artifacts that at one time had a significance to someone and now rest in a glass case preserved for individuals like me to ponder about.

As you follow the path through the museum it takes you through time with artifacts that help tell the story of Stirling, slowly building this narrative of continuation despite constraints. It allows you to examine major events and people who do not just have an importance in Stirling alone, but in the history of Scotland as well. 

Being in Scotland, I am surrounded by a complex history of not just a place, but of a people whose roots run deep in the web of the world’s identity and of my own. The history of the world and Scotland in particular is complex and continues to retain the identity of people who have remained strong to their roots while adapting with the times. Their stories are told over and over again in ways that at time may seem fictitious but contain some truth.

Currently in one of my Political Science classes we are discussing identity. There is a quote from one of the readings that we did that can be incorporated into this post on history and narratives. “We are all homo fabulans – storytellers. Narratives are ‘the primary way by which human experience is made meaningful’. Through narratives we make sense of the world, produce meaning, articulate intentions, and legitimize actions. While our lives begin with us being subject to the stories of our parents and others around us, we soon begin to tell our own stories about who we are and where we belong.” - Annich T. R. Wibben. 2009. “Who do we think we are” in Jenny Edkins (eds.) Global Politics, Routledge.

 This quote took me back to my tour of Stirling Castle. Stirling Castle is located on top of a hill overlooking the town of Stirling. From the top of the hill, the views of the surrounding areas are magnificent. In one direction you can see the rolling hills and the William Wallace monument, and to the other you can see King’s Knot and more beautiful views of the landscape that are enthralling.

The formal tour of Stirling Castle was not just a basic “to the right we have (insert name of random building), built in (insert questionable date).” Rather, we had a tour guide, who, as we walked outside the Great Hall, the Royal Palace, and Queen Anne’s Garden, told a historical narrative that had the tour members captivated at the history of the Stuarts, the Royal Family of Scotland and the first Royal Family of the United Kingdom. He spoke of the various Stuarts who occupied the castle and contributed to it in their own way. Building on top of the ruins of their predecessors to create something of their own, thus adding to the history of Scotland as a whole. My summation of the tour is inadequate because the tour guide did such a fantastic job of teaching us about Stirling Castle in a way that kept you enchanted even as you stood outside in the drizzling rain.

After the tour we were allowed to explore the castle buildings on our own. In my mind each room brought new wonders. There is something exciting about getting to walk through a castle. Castles and other historic buildings or sites give me the feeling that I am walking in the footsteps of those before me, and to me that is almost poetic.

My favorite building was the Royal Palace that housed the ornate Unicorn Tapestries. *Fun Fact: The Unicorn is the national animal of Scotland. I was and continued to be baffled by the careful detail they each contained and am in awe of the patience it must have taken to complete them.

Although my Homestay occurred weeks ago, I am left even today reflecting on the wonder that is human civilization as I do my readings for my classes. Looking back, we see the building blocks of societies once lived. Looking forward we must understand the legacy that we someday will leave behind.