Chapter VI explained

What happens

Themes in this chapter

• Antisemitism and Prejudice

  The chapter opens with a detailed account of the universal persecution of Jews in England, exemplified by Isaac's terror and the contempt shown by Christians.

• Love and Loyalty

  Lady Rowena's anxious questions about Ivanhoe reveal her deep affection and loyalty, despite their separation.

• Power and Tyranny

  Norman nobles like Front-de-Boeuf and Malvoisin exercise arbitrary power, extorting Jews and threatening travelers.

Characters to notice

• Isaac of York

  Fears pursuit by Norman knights; expresses terror of torture and extortion; seeks the Palmer's protection.

• Wilfred of Ivanhoe

  Mentioned by the Palmer and Lady Rowena; said to be returning from Palestine, thinner and darker, with care on his brow.

• Lady Rowena

  Questions the Palmer about Ivanhoe's fate and health; expresses concern for his return and the upcoming tournament.

• Gurth

  Swineherd at Rotherwood; initially refuses to let the Palmer and Jew leave secretly, but complies after a whispered word.

• Wamba

  Jester; enters Gurth's cell and jokes about the Jew leaving with a gammon of bacon.

• Cedric the Saxon

  Mentioned as a potential protector for Isaac, though Isaac doubts he will allow a Jew in his train.

• Brian de Bois-Guilbert

  Mentioned by Isaac as a fierce and savage Templar who might pursue him.

• Reginald Front-de-Boeuf

  Mentioned as a Norman lord whose territory the travelers have passed; Isaac fears his domains.

Key passages

• “Upon the slightest and most unreasonable pretences, as well as upon accusations the most absurd and groundless, their persons and property were exposed to every turn of popular fury; for Norman, Saxon, Dane, and Briton, however adverse these races were to each other, contended which should look with greatest detestation upon a people, whom it was accounted a point of religion to hate, to revile, to despise, to plunder, and to persecute.”

  Jews were subjected to constant persecution on flimsy pretexts, and all the rival ethnic groups—Normans, Saxons, Danes, and Britons—competed to show the most hatred toward them, considering it a religious duty to despise and rob them.

  Establishes the pervasive antisemitism of the era.

• “It is a well-known story of King John, that he confined a wealthy Jew in one of the royal castles, and daily caused one of his teeth to be torn out, until, when the jaw of the unhappy Israelite was half disfurnished, he consented to pay a large sum, which it was the tyrant's object to extort from him.”

  King John famously imprisoned a rich Jew and had a tooth pulled each day until the Jew paid a huge ransom, illustrating the brutal extortion practiced by royalty.

  Highlights the specific cruelty of King John toward Jews.

• “I feel their irons already tear my sinews! I feel the rack pass over my body like the saws, and harrows, and axes of iron over the men of Rabbah, and of the cities of the children of Ammon!”

  Isaac imagines he can already feel the torture instruments tearing his flesh, comparing his anticipated suffering to the biblical destruction of the Ammonites.

  Shows Isaac's extreme fear of Norman torture.

• “He was darker, and thinner, than when he came from Cyprus in the train of Coeur-de-Lion, and care seemed to sit heavy on his brow; but I approached not his presence, because he is unknown to me.”

  The Palmer describes Ivanhoe as looking darker and thinner than when he arrived from Cyprus with King Richard, with a worried expression, but adds that he did not speak to him directly.

  Provides Lady Rowena with news of Ivanhoe's appearance and mood.