Analysis of Quest for a Maid
In eighteenth century Scotland, women and girls wore kirtles, men sailed ships, children were betrothed at a young age, and people all believed in witchcraft. In Quest for a Maid, Meg, the protagonist, lives with her father, six sisters, and four of her sisters’ husbands in Iverkiething, Scotland. Meg witnessed her eldest sister, Inge, killed the King o’ Scots by using witchcraft to ensure someone else the throne. Later, Inge, was accused and tried for witchcraft, and Inge was found innocent. Meg, her fiancé Davie, and her friend Peem had to go on a search to find the rightful heir to the Scottish throne, The Maid of Norway. When they reached Norway, they met a very ill Maid of Norway. Meg, Davie, Peem, and The Maid, returned home to Scotland. On the way, the ship on which they sailed came in contact with a very large storm caused by Inge. The storm killed everyone on the ship except for Meg, Davie, Peem, and The Maid. Meg and the others had to sail to an island chain called The Orkneys to find shelter. The Maid, who was also called Marie by Meg and her companions became critically ill with lung fever. Meg nursed Marie back to health. Meg’s goal was to get The Maid from Norway to put the rightful heir on the Scottish throne.
The story begins when Meg was nine years old in Iverkiething, Scotland. Meg had a tooth ache and her sister, Inge, helped her by giving her some cloves. During the day, Meg accidentally swallowed her cloves, so she snuck into Inge’s store to get some more. Meg heard someone coming so she hid, and through a peep hole witnessed a woman ask Inge to kill the King o’ Scots. Inge and the woman started to chant and a booming voice responded back. Inge’s eyes started to roll back and she collapsed and stopped breathing. When she regain consciousness, Inge told the woman that the king was dead (11-18). What Inge did impacted Meg very much. She was very disappointed in her sister and was afraid to ever think about...