The Pigheaded PupilCertain human qualities sour the soul. When James, the second Earl Waldegrave, penned his analysis of his pupil, Prince George, in 1758, he described one of those costly ...
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The Pigheaded Pupil Certain human qualities sour the soul. When James, the second Earl Waldegrave, penned his analysis of his pupil, Prince George, in 1758, he described one of those costly characteristics. “He has spirit, but not of the active kind; and does not want resolution, but it is mixed with too much obstinacy,” observed James. “His religion is free from all hypocrisy, but is not of the most charitable sort; he has rather too much attention to the sins of his neighbor.” James knew the truth. Twenty-one-year-old George was pigheaded. He could smell the muck on those around him but couldn’t detect when he needed to bathe in his own royal tub. Not only did James view George’s stubbornness as a problem, but he also thought the prince lacked the temperament to overcome his obstinacy. “He has a kind of unhappiness in his temper, which, if it be not conquered before it has taken too deep a root, will be a source of frequent anxiety,” fretted James. “Whenever he is displeased, his anger does not break out with heat and violence; but he becomes sullen and silent, and retires to his closet; not to compose his mind by study or contemplation, but merely to indulge the melancholy enjoyment of his own ill humor.” Humility is one way to overcome pigheadedness. Unfortunately, George often looked inward, but only to sulk. When someone angered him, he went into his chamber in the castle, closed the door, and pouted. Rarely did a change in attitude emerge at the same time the prince did. James turned to an old remedy for his pigheaded pupil. He hoped time would salvage George’s character and remove his stubbornness before he became king. “Though I have mentioned his good and bad qualities, without flattery, and without aggravation, allowances should still be made, on account of his youth, and his bad education,” he wrote, chiding the nursery nannies who had spoiled young George. “During the course of the last year, there has, indeed, been some alteration … But whether this change will be greatly to his Royal Highness’s advantage, is a nice question, which cannot hitherto be determined with any certainty,” he concluded. Perhaps James hoped a few more years would be enough time to prepare George for kingship. However, two years after his analysis, King George II died and Prince George became King George III. Time would do more to prove James, the second Earl Waldegrave, a political prophet than to improve George’s pigheadedness. Prayer Oh, Lord, help me listen to your voice. Allow humility to replace stubbornness in my heart. “A man who remains stiff-necked after many rebukes will suddenly be destroyed without remedy” (Proverbs 29:1). | |
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