When the corpses of {Sir John} Franklin's officers and crew were later discovered, miles from their ships, the men were found to have left behind their guns but to have lugged such essentials as monogrammed silver cutlery, a backgammon board, a cigar case, a clothes brush, a tin of button polish, and a copy of The Vicar of Wakefield. These men may have been incompetent bunglers, but, by God, they were gentlemen.
The discovery of Sir John Franklin's officers and crew revealed that despite their dire circumstances, they carried with them items of personal significance rather than practical necessities. Among the belongings found were monogrammed silver cutlery, a backgammon board, and a cigar case, suggesting a focus on comfort and a sense of maintaining their gentlemanly status even in tragedy. This highlights a disparity between their situation and their values, as their choices reflect a commitment to civility over survival.
Anne Fadiman's observations underscore a broader commentary on human nature and the complexities of character. The men may have faced a catastrophic failure in their expedition, often viewed as bunglers, yet they retained elements of dignity and refinement. This dichotomy presents an intriguing portrait of individuals who, even in the bleakest of situations, still prioritized personal artifacts that represented their identity as gentlemen, transgressing the expectations of survival instinct in favor of social decorum.
