Waverley

Edward Waverley is a young Englishman from a noble family and the novel's titular protagonist. He is the main representative of the themes of Experience and Education and Tolerance and Understanding in the Face of Political Upheaval. He is the last heir to the Waverley name and estate. He spends most of the year living with his uncle, Sir Everard, who hopes to raise him to be a proper Tory. Everard and Edward’s father Richard have contrasting political views, making Edward’s upbringing ideologically inconsistent. Equally inconsistent is Edward’s education. Though a curious boy, Edward is allowed by his guardians to indulge his taste in romantic novels, something that was seen at the time as impractical. This prevents him from forming many firm beliefs by adulthood. As his last name symbolically suggests, Edward wavers in his convictions throughout the novel. At the novel's beginning, Edward is sent into the British army to better understand the world outside of Waverley-Honour. This leads the protagonist to new places, people, and ideas and causes him to gain some practical experience he missed in his earlier education. Though he continually switches sides and opinions, Edward’s experiences lead him to philosophize about his life rather than romanticize it.