The Master of Ballantrae
Characters Discussed
James Durie
James Durie, the master of Ballantrae. Reported dead after the Battle of Culloden, he escapes to America, then goes to France, where he makes heavy financial demands on his brother Henry, now the heir to Durrisdeer, over a period of seven years. As Mr. Bally, James returns to Scotland, where he and Henry fight a duel. James apparently is killed, though his body disappears. Severely wounded, he is rescued by smugglers and taken to India, where he makes a fortune and acquires a native servant, Secundra Dass. When James again returns to Durrisdeer, Henry and his family flee to New York but are followed by James. In America, Henry decides to get rid of his evil brother permanently, but Secundra Dass overhears plans for James’s murder and shortly thereafter reports that his master has died. Henry, determined to satisfy himself that James is really dead, comes upon his brother’s grave just as Secundra Dass is exhuming James, who has not died but has been placed in a state of suspended animation by Secundra Dass as a means of tricking Henry. When Henry sees his brother’s eyes flutter open after a week underground, he drops dead of shock. Despite many hours of strenuous effort, Secundra Dass is unable to revive James fully because of the cold temperature; at last, the brothers, deadly enemies, are buried in the same grave.
Henry Durie
Henry Durie, James’s younger brother, who remains at Durrisdeer. After James’s reported death, Henry, now the heir, marries Alison. Plagued almost constantly by his very much alive brother James, Henry finally flees to America with his family, but his relentless brother pursues him. Hated and hating, the two brothers, after a macabre graveside scene, are placed in the same grave in the remote American wilderness.
Lord Durrisdeer
Lord Durrisdeer, the father of James and Henry. A canny Scot, he protects his estate by having one son on each side in the Stuart uprising.
Alison Graeme
Alison Graeme, a wealthy relative betrothed to James. After the report of his death, she marries Henry, though she still loves James. When James returns to Durrisdeer for the first time, Alison seems to prefer his company to that of her husband.
Ephraim Mackellar
Ephraim Mackellar, the factor of Durrisdeer, loyal to Henry. He narrates most of the story.
Colonel Francis Burke
Colonel Francis Burke, who first brings word that James is alive and in France. James demands that money be sent to him.
Captain Teach
Captain Teach, a pirate who captures James and Burke, and whose treasure James steals.
Jacob Chew
Jacob Chew, an Indian trader of New York with whom James makes a wilderness expedition.
Secundra Dass
Secundra Dass, a servant acquired by James in India. He returns to Scotland with James, then accompanies his master to America. Attempting to trick Henry, he places James in a state of suspended animation, then is unable to revive him.
Literary Techniques
Stevenson frequently relies on a naive narrator to drive his plot forward. Ephraim Mackellar only knows what he directly observes and hears, along with what he can infer from this evidence. Consequently, readers experience the events and characters through the eyes of this typically sympathetic and devoted family servant. Although Mackellar tries to tolerate James's unruly behavior, his affection for Henry and admiration for Henry's endurance lead him to take sides. Mackellar's fairness in his judgments and reports persuades the reader to agree with him, regardless of how "charming" the Master may sometimes seem, ultimately leading him to condemn someone to whom he would have otherwise been...
(This entire section contains 190 words.)
Unlock this Study Guide Now
Start your 48-hour free trial and get ahead in class. Boost your grades with access to expert answers and top-tier study guides. Thousands of students are already mastering their assignments—don't miss out. Cancel anytime.
Already a member? Log in here.
fiercely loyal.
The inserted reports from Burke somewhat disrupt the narrative flow, yet they offer, in a fittingly casual tone, insights into James's activities when he is beyond Mackellar's observation. The plot unfolds in a mostly linear fashion with minimal background information. Despite this, the settings are varied and widespread, possibly introduced to maintain reader interest. For instance, the trips to America might appear unnecessary to some readers. Nonetheless, the action remains engaging, and many critics' high praise for the characterization seems well-deserved.
Literary Precedents
The concept of sibling rivalry dates back to the biblical tale of Cain and Abel. Similarly, Scottish history is filled with stories of families torn apart by the Jacobite uprisings of 1715 and 1745. This type of family strife also highlights the well-known stubbornness often associated with the Scottish character. However, going further back in English literature, John Fletcher and Philip Massinger's play The Elder Brother (circa 1637) explores this kind of brotherly hostility, though in a much less violent way than Robert Louis Stevenson does.
Regarding the 1715 and 1745 rebellions, the closest earlier reference—and likely a significant influence—is Walter Scott, who addressed the topic with notable impartiality in works like Waverley (1814) and Rob Roy (1818). Reflecting Scott's perspective, Stevenson seems to convey the thematic message that all battles, regardless of their noble causes, are inherently perilous and invariably costly, a notion also prevalent in much of The Aeneid.
Adaptations
The movie adaptation of The Master of Ballantrae showcased Errol Flynn's exceptional swashbuckling skills. Flynn portrayed the Master in a more positive manner than the character was depicted in the book. The film, directed by William Keighley and produced by Warner Brothers, was released in 1953.