The poem “The Waulking Song,” discusses a technique used in the Highland’s referred to as waulking. Waulking is a method employed to stretch the fabrics used to make the tartan. This is significant because the “Waulking Song,” makes a connection between “Waulking” and the Prince Charles, “Every cloth they have waulked for thee, Firm and goodly did they leave it.” (89,90) “Every cloth they have waulked for thee,” shows a sense of loyalty to the Prince’s traditions by waulking in his honor, “for thee." In the Princes absence waulking and the tartan becomes symbolic for everything the Prince and the Highlanders represent. The tartan and waulking becomes symbolic of their sense of tradition and nationalism. Nationalism that has been created around the values and traditions of Prince Charles are displayed in the waulking, and the tartan. The poem alludes to the idea that the Prince has left, but “[W]aulked for thee” shows a sense of unity and brotherhood by the Highlanders by continuing to “Waulk,” in his absence. The absence of the Prince in this poem creates a connection a bond among the people of the Highlands. As we discussed in class, a connection is found when a group of people experience the same loss, or in a position to lose the same thing. The loss of the Prince creates a sense of urgency among the people of the Highlands to create a cultural marker, which is created with the tartar, and the technique of waulking. As with American’s our unity and brotherhood is symbolized through our flag, which is symbolic of freedom, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. The technique of “waulking,” and the tartan is a symbolic of the Highlander’s brotherhood.
This poem can be seen as a political poem because the Highlander’s use this brotherhood and unity as a mechanism to encourage an uprising, “Tight, thick, firm, well waulked woven, Scarlet-tinted with blood’s colour.” (91,92). The tone of this stanza is dedication, blood flowing, determination, and a preparedness to fight for the continuation of their culture towards the red coats that threaten it. The reference to waulking and tartans in this stanza, “Tight, thick, firm, well waulked…,” shows the unity, and tight brotherhood that’s woven together like the cloth of the tartan. The reference made to “Scarlet-tinted with blood’s colour,” gives the reader a feeling that they will fight until they have wiped out anyone not from the Highlands that threatens their tradition.
I n the poem “The Proud Plaid,” we see similar images of identity and brother and sisterhood displayed in the previous poem, “To our souls he’s woven/Firmly waulked, and tightly locked/Ne’er can he be loosened/From us till he is cut away.” (77-80). As with the first poem, “The Proud Plaid” gives the same cultural markers “Firmly waulked,” and the same language of unity, “tightly locked.” Also the reference to Prince Charles as a leader and a symbol of the Highland culture likewise is apparent in this poem. The title of the poem also denotes a type of cultural pride as with the first poem, “The Proud Plaid.” This poem also shows a type of urgency. The fact that the poem is titled the proud plaid denotes a need to stand up a say that they are proud to wear and be a plaid.
The themes of these poems are consistent; the idea of cultural identity, and the urgency displayed in each poem for a cultural marker. The Highlanders in their prince’s absence develop a heightened need for a national identity. The tartan and waulking become a solution to their need to carry on their traditions.