“Gunpowder, treason and plot” was among the themes of the final installment of the history and political science department’s “Then and Now” lecture series. Department head William Robison presented “Guy Fawkes, Gunpowder Plot, and the Great Pumpkin: Mid-Autumn Mayhem, Murder, and Mystery” at 11 a.m. on Oct. 29 in the Pottle Music Building Auditorium.

Before beginning his lecture, Robison took time to honor Donna Gay Anderson, former director of the Columbia Theatre for the Performing Arts. Robison noted her dedication and insight and all that Anderson has accomplished within the university, especially Fanfare and the lecture series.

Robison first delved into the tongue-in-cheek mystery of the Great Pumpkin, who was an aspiring member of the gourd family that rose to near-notoriety through the music industry. Utilizing such pseudonyms as “The Def Pumpkin” and “Pump Daddy,” the he achieved much in the music business before his sudden disappearance.

Speculations about the disappearance proved to be rampant, and men such as Michael Moore and Glenn Beck offered their theories on the subject. Darth Vader, Voldemort (He Who Must Not Be Named), Osama bin Laden and many more names of infamy did not escape suspicion. However, the case to this day remains unsolved. Robison urged anyone willing to contribute to the solving of the mystery to leave unmarked cash at Room 335C in Fayard Hall.

The Gunpowder Plot of 1605 and Guy Fawkes were at the heart of the lecture. The plot was an attempt by various English nationals to blow up the House of Lords of the British Parliament in the name of Catholicism. After the explosion, the Catholics intended to place their own ruler on the throne of England and thus wrangle control of the country from the Anglicans.

The plot was discovered via an anonymous letter, and on the morning of Nov. 5, 1605, Guy Fawkes was found in a cellar beneath the House of Lords along with enough barrels of gunpowder to destroy the building. Fawkes and seven other conspirators were arrested, and all men were sentenced to be hanged, drawn and quartered in light of their attempted crime.

Robison went on to say that after the plot, anti-Catholic sentiment was high and remained so for several hundred years. However, it was noted that although the celebrations on Nov. 5, known as Bonfire Day or Fireworks Day, started relatively soon, it took several hundred years for the Guy Fawkes effigy to be burned as in the modern day incarnation of the event. This change only came about in the 1800s as Great Britain tried to distance itself from the earlier anti-Catholic nature of the previous celebrations.

“In the history books, Guy is presented as much more sympathetic,” said Robison.

Indeed, in many modern accounts of the plot, Fawkes is portrayed as a heroic martyr, such as in the novel “Guy Fawkes; or, The Gunpowder Treason” by William Ainsworth.

Since the late 1600s, burning effigies has become a common form of demonstrating social unrest in the United Kingdom. These representations of people have taken on many forms over the years.

“No one is safe from becoming an effigy these days,” said Robison. “They burned Horatio Nelson for some reason.”

Robison also pointed out that Sarah Palin, Barack Obama and every British prime minister to date have been symbolically consumed by flame in protest.

The audience’s reception was very enthusiastic. Overall, the opinions seemed to be those of entertainment and historical interest.

“I always enjoy these lectures and their donation of entertainment and education,” said English professor George Dorrill. “I always enjoy it and always learn a lot.”

Robison concluded the lecture by wishing everyone a happy Halloween and, after cajoling the audience into a round of “trick or treats,” tossed candy into the audience.