This paper is concerned with the aftermath of the both failed and famous Franklin expedition of 1845, more specifically, the reaction of the public and those closely involved in the search. One central point of offence in the aftermath were allegations of cannibalism, which were strongly denied by central public figures, such as Lady Jane Franklin, Franklin’s (widowed) wife and Charles Dickens. Likewise, newspapers reporting on the events expressed doubts about the true nature of these claims which originated from the hearsay evidence of several Inuit tribesmen. These reports were later confirmed by later search expeditions and ultimately by forensic evidence in the late eighties. But that seamen and especially officers of the Royal Navy - including famous war hero and explorer John Franklin - had resorted to cannibalism, seemed unthinkable to the British. So the Victorians chose to ignore or deny the accusations. And even today it can be observed that the British media - unlike German media - omit information about cannibalism in articles regarding new findings of the expedition. The question is, why. Why did the accusations stir up Victorian society? And what role played the media in the aftermath?
For its investigation, this essay first recapitulates the events of the Franklin expedition and the search, which have been covered in great detail by many authors of different backgrounds. The paper then focuses on the Victorian values and ideas of British people of the mid-19th century. Of central interest will be the Victorian idea of a “true Englishman” and how Sir John Franklin, the central figure of the expedition, was perceived by the public. What were he and other officers expected to do in dire circumstances and what certainly not? And what did the British think of non-English and non-white people such as the indigenous Inuit?
Using the previously gained knowledge, Chapter 5 will then analyse newspaper articles to interpret to what degree the accusations were or were not taken seriously and what role British perception of the Inuit and cannibalism played in that regard. Of interest will also be if the media always was a willing participant in the battle for the image of the Englishman or if there were inconsistencies and to what degree media’s argumentation may have been influenced by government policy.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. The Facts
3. The Ideal Englishman
4. Cannibals and Savages
5. Analysis
6. Conclusion
Research Objectives and Themes
This paper examines the societal and media reaction in Victorian Britain following the discovery of the ill-fated 1845 Franklin expedition, with a particular focus on the allegations of cannibalism. The research investigates how these claims challenged contemporary Victorian ideals, national identity, and imperial superiority, and analyzes how the media, specifically The Times, attempted to manage these controversial reports by delegitimizing the indigenous Inuit witnesses.
- Victorian perceptions of heroism and the "true Englishman"
- The influence of racial ideologies and the concept of the "savage"
- Media manipulation of public opinion during the 1854 discovery
- The role of Dr. John Rae as the messenger of unwelcome facts
- Defense of national honor and the suppression of the cannibalism narrative
Excerpt from the Book
The Ideal Englishman
Of central interest in an investigation of the outrage over the Franklin expedition should be the question why the outrage over the cannibalism was so severe. For this, Chauncey Loomis offers a good explanation:
The Franklin Expedition was not simply carrying the Union Jack into the Arctic; it was carrying Western man's faith in his power to prevail on earth. If Franklin could find and navigate a Northwest Passage after almost three centuries of failures, Western man would seem somehow to demonstrate his capacity to conquer Nature at its most mysterious and intimidating. (104-5)
By reverting what Loomis said - imagining a total failure of the expedition, with all lives and material lost and some even resorting to cannibalism - what then? Would it not show that “Western man's faith” had failed, that his quest was inevitably doomed? And would the reports of cannibalism - if true - not forever taint the honour of Franklin and his “gallant comrades”? To a Victorian then, the events must have been unthinkable, especially when such a great hero as Franklin had led the expedition.
Franklin was not just any member of Britain’s elite. He was considered a war hero as he had taken part in the Napoleonic wars and even saw the Battle of Trafalgar while serving on the HMS Bellerophon. He was a famous (yet technically maybe less successful) explorer who gained massive recognition after he published his narrative of his Arctic expedition of 1819-22. He was taught the art of sea navigation by Matthew Flinders, who himself had been trained by famous explorer and admiral, James Cook. (cf. Lambert 27-34; Holland) In a speech by Sir Roderick Murchison, the Vice-President of the Royal Geographic Society, his historical renown is especially evident. In it, Murchison proposes that a memorial should be built for Franklin right at Trafalgar Square, “so that his earliest services under the immortal Nelson may be blended with the nation’s recognition of his Arctic fame” (“Presentation of the Gold Medals” 115). To the Victorians then, Franklin was a living legend. If a hero such as Franklin lowered himself to cannibalism, there would be "no hope that a normal Englishman would not choose to survive at whatever costs" (Marlow 652).
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: This chapter outlines the scope of the study, focusing on the public and media reaction to the Franklin expedition's demise and the controversial cannibalism allegations.
2. The Facts: This section provides a historical overview of the 1845 expedition, the subsequent search efforts, and Dr. John Rae’s 1854 discovery of the crew's fate.
3. The Ideal Englishman: This chapter analyzes Victorian moral codes, the status of Sir John Franklin as a national hero, and why the cannibalism reports were viewed as a threat to British identity.
4. Cannibals and Savages: This section explores the discourse surrounding cannibalism and the racialized construction of "savages" in 19th-century literature and society.
5. Analysis: This chapter examines five articles from The Times published in 1854 to interpret how the media attempted to discredit the Inuit accounts and protect the image of the British Empire.
6. Conclusion: This chapter summarizes how Victorian racial ideology and the need for imperial integrity led to the systematic denial of the Franklin expedition’s fate.
Keywords
Franklin Expedition, Cannibalism, Victorian Britain, John Rae, The Times, Inuit, Imperialism, Racial Ideology, National Identity, Media Analysis, Sir John Franklin, Savage, Survival, Heroism, Propaganda
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary subject of this research?
The work examines the aftermath of the failed 1845 Franklin expedition, specifically the intense societal and media backlash against reports that the crew had resorted to cannibalism.
What are the central themes explored?
Key themes include British national identity, Victorian moral standards, racial superiority, the role of media in shaping public narrative, and the tension between empirical evidence and ideological belief.
What is the main research question?
The paper asks why the cannibalism accusations caused such a profound outrage in Victorian society and how the media participated in suppressing these claims to protect the image of the "ideal Englishman."
Which scientific method is utilized?
The study employs a qualitative content analysis of historical newspaper articles from The Times, contextualized within the broader academic discourse of the era.
What is the focus of the main analysis?
The analysis investigates five specific articles published by The Times in October 1854, tracking the shifting editorial stance from reporting facts to actively discrediting Inuit witness accounts.
Which keywords best describe this study?
Franklin Expedition, Cannibalism, Victorianism, Media Analysis, and Imperial Ideology are the most defining terms for this research.
How did Victorian racial ideology impact the treatment of Inuit witnesses?
The Victorian belief that "savages" were inherently inferior and untrustworthy was used by the media to dismiss the Inuit testimony regarding the expedition's fate as mere lies intended to hide their own actions.
Why did the media and public figures like Charles Dickens defend Sir John Franklin?
Defending Franklin was essential to maintaining the narrative of British imperial superiority and moral flawlessness; acknowledging that a hero could resort to cannibalism would have compromised this identity.
- Citation du texte
- Gernot Meyer (Auteur), 2016, “The Lies of Savages”. Inuit, Victorians and Cannibalism in the Aftermath of the Franklin Expedition, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/354797
