ARTIFACT: A Lady's Diary: Before and During the Indian Mutiny by M. H. Ouvry
DETAILS ABOUT THE ARTIFACT:
Originally published in 1892, the diary details the point of the author and her husbands marriage in 1854 to their return to England in April of 1858
HISTORY OF THE INDIAN MUTINY:
The “Indian Mutiny” goes by many names including the Sepoy mutiny and the “1857 uprising.” It was an unsuccessful violent military uprising of between the Hindu and Muslim members of the Indian sectional of the British army. There were many long term and short term causes to the uprising including the harsh unfair treatment and persecution of those in the regiment. A horrid example is the gruesome Execution by Cannon (depicted in the image above). A less gory reason behind the “mutiny” is the Doctrine of Lapse which regulated how land could be passed down in India which was in contrast with the Hindu Law that landowners can "adopt" successors to pass their land to if they have no natural heir. Instead the Doctrine of Lapse has the land annexed to Britain. Another issue that may have led to the uprising is the Enfield rifle, the cartridge of which was greased with pork and beef fat which deeply goes against the religion of Muslims and Hindu's. Though there are many other factors that could’ve led to the uprising.
The uprising was largely violent and had a high casualty count. The mutineers committed multiple massacres in Delhi, Kanpur, and Lucknow (image to the right) with the deaths of women and children which was highly atrocious to the British. However brutal the Mutiny was short lived and ended a year later on July 8th 1858.
COMPARISON TO THE MOONSTONE:
As these events are occurring around the same time period that the Moonstone is being written in, there are parallels seen with the stereotypes against Indians with the descriptions of the Indians and their suspicious, dark manner. Using what seems to be dark magic for evil purposes according to Betteridge, Penelope and anyone else who learns of what Penelope say. Their prejudice against the Indians also leads them to have them locked up for no real reason. Betteridge also seemingly forgets about them being locked up in jail until someone else brings it up showing he does not hold them at a high priority. The prejudice that occurs in the novel also parallels British mentality against the Indians, seeing them as less than, savage and that they need to assimilate to British culture to be valid.
THE ARTIFACT:
The diary starts off with the author and her husband getting married and taking the long boat ride to India. The entries are rather short and to the point. As they reach and experience India, the entries get longer and more descriptive. Around halfway through the entries she gets sick in the months of the mutiny. And she debates that what is being said about it is an exaggeration(85). Her and her husband find their way into the midst of the fighting and her husband works hard to fight, he even saves someones life. As the mutiny is coming to a close her and her husband come back to England.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
Do you think this account of the happenings during the Indian Mutiny is a good source to finding out what really happened between the two sides? Why or why not?
Do you think that like Charlotte Bronte the author was discouraged to publish her writings because she was a female?
As these events are occurring around the same time period that the Moonstone is being written in, there are parallels seen with the stereotypes against Indians with the descriptions of the Indians and their suspicious, dark manner. Using what seems to be dark magic for evil purposes according to Betteridge, Penelope and anyone else who learns of what Penelope say. Their prejudice against the Indians also leads them to have them locked up for no real reason. Betteridge also seemingly forgets about them being locked up in jail until someone else brings it up showing he does not hold them at a high priority. The prejudice that occurs in the novel also parallels British mentality against the Indians, seeing them as less than, savage and that they need to assimilate to British culture to be valid.
THE ARTIFACT:
The diary starts off with the author and her husband getting married and taking the long boat ride to India. The entries are rather short and to the point. As they reach and experience India, the entries get longer and more descriptive. Around halfway through the entries she gets sick in the months of the mutiny. And she debates that what is being said about it is an exaggeration(85). Her and her husband find their way into the midst of the fighting and her husband works hard to fight, he even saves someones life. As the mutiny is coming to a close her and her husband come back to England.
WORKS CITED
“A Lady’s Diary Before and During the Indian Mutiny [Illustrated Edition].” Google Books, books.google.com/books/about/A_Lady_s_Diary_Before_and_During_the_Ind.html?id=1TpvCwAAQBAJ&source=kp_cover.
Hickman, Kennedy. “Indian Rebellion of 1857: Siege of Lucknow.” ThoughtCo, www.thoughtco.com/indian-rebellion-1857-siege-of-lucknow-2361380.
Shepherd, Kevin r. d. “Kevin R.D. Shepherd: Commentaries.” Indian Mutiny 1857-58, 1 Jan. 1970, kevin-rd-shepherd.blogspot.com/2014/03/indian-mutiny-1857-58.html.
The Editors of Encyclopædia Britannica. “Doctrine of lapse.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, inc., 9 Apr. 2014, www.britannica.com/topic/doctrine-of-lapse.
The Editors of Encyclopædia Britannica. “Indian Mutiny.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, inc., 10 Feb. 2017, www.britannica.com/event/Indian-Mutiny.
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