Thistle Mean Something

From time to time, I’ll check out some YouTube videos of Gen Zers and Millennials who react to movies for the first time. Generally, they react to jump scares, sad moments, or plot twists from films like Jaws, Alien, Vertigo, Schindler’s List—what have you—like any other human being would. Sometimes they seem to be confounded by revelations or plots that are more complex…as we all sometimes are. And sometimes they simply don’t catch obvious symbolism when it's presented because many of the reviewers may not have been very good students of history, may not have a good deal of life experience, haven’t traveled, or feel it’s more important to display action figures and plush toys on their bookshelves rather than say... books.

One seemingly universal response from the movie reactors is the moment in Mel Gibson’s “Braveheart” when young William Wallace loses his father and brother who have been killed by the English. At the funeral, a young girl, later in the film to be Wallace’s wife, presents young William with a thistle. In just about every instance, the movie reactors on YouTube respond with an “Ah…isn’t that sweet?” or “She’s giving him a flower.”

Well, it’s a thistle. And it’s a thistle and not an ordinary flower for a reason, because the thistle is the symbol of Scotland and has been for centuries. Some trace the symbol back to ancient Pict tribes in Scotland. The thistle appears on numerous Scottish clan flags and banners and coats of arms.

From Scottish Insider:

The thistle is also a popular symbol in Scottish folklore and mythology. In one legend, the thistle is said to have saved Scotland from a Viking invasion when a Norse warrior stepped on a thistle and let out a loud cry, alerting the Scots to the presence of the invaders.

In terms of its cultural significance, the thistle is often associated with the values of bravery, courage, and determination. These values are said to be exemplified by the thistle’s sharp spines, which protect the flower from being eaten by animals.

The visual reference that the filmmakers—Gibson, Randall Wallace, and perhaps others—settled on was to show that the young girl, Murron, in handing the thistle to young Wallace is in a sense giving him Scotland to cherish and protect. Later, William Wallace, in rebelling against English rule in Scotland, was awarded the title Guardian of Scotland before his capture by the English.

At the end of Mel Gibson’s film, the thistle, now embroidered into a cloth that Wallace has kept with him, somehow ends up with Robert the Bruce after Wallace’s execution, thus further symbolizing that Robert the Bruce will now serve as Scotland's guardian. The film, like all biopics, takes liberties with history and a good deal of the particulars of Wallace’s life remain obscure. The thistle, and the thistle in the embroidered cloth, is certainly the filmmakers’ embellishment… but it’s a touch of storytelling genius and occasionally should be recognized as such.