Oppression

The historical context of the book sets a background where lords rule over land, and common people struggle as their tenants. The feudal system adds an important thematic element to the story, as the narrator struggles to discover his identity during a tumultuous time when common people are oppressed by bondage. Commoners during this time live under the oppression of not only the feudal system, but also the harsh restrictive laws of the church. As a former sub-deacon, Nicolas exemplifies the struggle to choose between right and wrong in the midst of immobilizing restrictions.

The novel also deals with the corruption of both the church and nobility. Unsworth depicts those characters connected to the feudal lord or the church as villains. The story additionally reveals the harsh nature of justice under a tyrannical lord; de Guise's own justice system is harsh, swift, and self-serving. In the battle between...