Chapter 29

As the besiegers attack the Castle, Rebecca stands at the window to relate to Ivanhoe the exact sequence of events. He soon falls asleep. Rebecca, left to her own thoughts, tries to sort out her feelings for him. She realizes that she is beginning to love him.

Isaac allows his daughter to treat Ivanhoe for two reasons. He does not want Rebecca to pass on her knowledge of healing to someone else; he also thinks this kindness may be returned when Richard comes back to power. As she heals Ivanhoe, Rebecca falls in love with him; her love is sure to be frustrated since she is a Jew.

The conversation between Rebecca and Ivanhoe is significant. When Ivanhoe, as the voice of the author himself, describes the meaning of chivalry and honor to her, Rebecca views the knightly code only as an excuse for rationalizing bloodshed and violence; she thinks the "nobility" of knighthood is meaningless.

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