MovieChat Forums > The Pillars of the Earth (2010) Discussion > Eustace switch question

Eustace switch question

posted 13 years ago by tante_fiolett
5 replies | jump to latest

I don't understand why Richard, Aliena's brother, did as Waleran suggested and switched Eustace for another boy at the exchange of Stephen and Robert og Gloucester. Richard is only pretending to be on Stephen's side, isn't he? Stephen killed his father and so Richard is only fighting on that side to regain his earldom, and he's secretly rooting for Maud. So when Stephen is finally captured and everything seems good, why does he switch Eustace? I haven't read the book but I was puzzled by this in the show. Help?

[–] jamesfairweather 13 years ago

Richard wasn't _pretending_ to be on Stephen's side, he was actually on Stephen's side. Waleran and the Hamleighs switched allegiance to Maude, because it appeared she had won the civil war, and they want to be on the winning side. Why Maude would accept their change of allegiance is unclear to me.

[–] tante_fiolett 13 years ago

I see. But I still don't see how Richard can fight along Stephen when he executed his father. And Aliena appears to be on Maud's side - isn't she?

[–] jamesfairweather 13 years ago

Richard does what Aliena tells him to do, and she believes the best chance for for Richard to be made earl is to support Stephen, not Maude. Aliena was on Maude's side until the rebellion was stopped by the Hamleighs and Maude fled England. When Maude returned, it made more sense to support Stephen than Maude and Robert.

[–] IBotherSnape 12 years ago

Richard fought for Stephen to get the title of Earl of Shiring back. Aliena was on Maud's side during Maud's time as Queen because Maud was the one who gave Kingsbridge a licence for the market again. If Stephan became King again then the licence would have been null and void.

"I'll go with you"
Harmony Shipper

[–] JussM 9 years ago

I'm as "delusional" as you!;)