Victorian Myths of the Sea: A Study in Nationalism

FAIN: FT-10842-70

Cynthia F. Behrman
Board of Directors of Wittenberg College (Springfield, OH 45504-2120)

Study of Victorian myths about England and the sea, myths involving the national self-image, Britain's imperial role, the character of her naval heroes (Drake, Nelson), her seamanship, and her morally invincible navy. Myths are an important social force--initiating, supporting, and reinforcing community action. They need not be "true," they need only be believed to be important. In Victorian England, the Navy, which for an island nation would be a natural defensive arm, also became in the national mind an important symbol for many admirable qualities--bravery, loyalty, strength, compassion and power wisely exercised--qualities assumed to be English by racial inheritance. The Royal Navy served as a training ground for the development of "character." This study is an extension of fellow's dissertation, "The Mythology of British Imperialism, 1880-1914" and will be useful in two cross-disciplinary, cross-cultural courses which she teaches, Understanding History and The Study and Teaching of History.