Last week I was fortunate to combine two of my personal hobbies - reading about history and sitting on the beach! It was a very restful, relaxing, enjoyable vacation with great weather. My wife and I had an absolutely wonderful time.
One of the books that I finished was a biography (of sorts) by the author, historian, and lawyer, Joyce Lee Malcolm, called The Tragedy of Benedict Arnold: An American Life. It's a fascinating account of how one of America's greatest generals during the Revolutionary War turned into one of America's most famous (and dare I say, "hated") traitors. Arnold was considered a hero for his daring, bravery, and leadership at the capture of Fort Ticonderoga in 1775 (the cannons were removed from the fort and hauled over 300 miles to fortify Dorchester Heights, which forced the British to leave the city of Boston), the Battle of Quebec in 1775 (during which he was shot in the leg), the Battle of Valcour Island on Lake Champlain in 1776 (a naval battle in which he commanded several smaller ships), and the Battle of Saratoga in 1777 (when he was again shot in the leg, which nearly crippled him for life). The book actually focuses on his early life and his heroism and bravery during the early part of the war, dedicating just over 100 pages or so to episode for which he was accused of treason (he escaped and actually fought for the British for the remainder of the war, eventually moving to England after the Battle of Yorktown). It's a fascinating account of an incredible fall from grace - he was one of General George Washington's most beloved generals. There were a number of events that eventually led him to change sides and betray his country, and by the time I finished the book, I found myself actually feeling sorry for him. Maybe that was the author's point.
I have been fascinated with Benedict Arnold's story since my early childhood, when I first learned of how he became a traitor by watching an episode of the American television show, The Brady Bunch. Chances are, you've probably seen the episode too. It's the one where Peter Brady tries out for a part in the school play. He doesn't get the part he wanted (George Washington), but instead gets to play Benedict Arnold. It's a classic. And shocker of all shockers, it's surprisingly historically accurate (or at least close)! The final scene of the play has Benedict Arnold close to death and asking to put on his dusty old uniform - not the uniform that he wore in the British Army, but the one he wore in the Continental Army. As the legend goes, Arnold told his wife, "Let me die in my old American uniform, the uniform in which I fought my battles. God forgive me for ever putting on any other."
We are reminded, once again, that history is written by the victors and not the defeated. While Benedict Arnold was indeed a traitor, perhaps history hasn't necessarily told the complete story. Nothing could ever justify treason, but reading this book shows Arnold in a slightly different light. He did not immediately resort to treason, as many of us were taught in school. Rather, it took a long series of events to turn him. It's a sad tale, but an important one in our history. And maybe the lesson for us here is this - nothing can ever justify committing a crime, such as treason. Nothing can ever justify betraying someone's trust, even if it doesn't involve an act of treason. However, we should always seek to understand the person's perspective. And we should always forgive, even if we can't necessarily forget.
No comments:
Post a Comment