LE3 .A278 2009

2009

Doerr, Paul

Acadia University

Bachelor of Arts

Honours

History

History & Classics

During its ‘Golden Age’, 1793-1815, the Royal Navy held the command of the oceans, and was the most successful fighting force of its day. Yet the men who lived and breathed the ships are often left in obscurity, shrouded by myth and misunderstanding. Once a problematic, potentially disruptive figure, the ordinary seamen was molded into the safe and acceptable image of ‘Jolly Jack Tar’. This image of the courageous, loyal seaman developed into a national symbol, embodying British ideals of masculinity and honour. This study examines the role of caricature in molding and popularizing the typecast image of the sailor. Largely ignored by the historical community, caricature and satirical print offer insight into the popular and intellection opinion of the sailor. A description of the stereotype and deconstruction of Jack’s image is presented in conjunction with the examination of selected contemporary prints. It is argued that caricature played a pivotal role in the popularization of the Jack Tar’s stereotype in Georgian Britain. The sailor’s depiction in satirical print developed into two distinct areas: the sailor ashore and Jack Tar as a national identity. This study concludes that caricature played a pivotal role in the popularization of Jack Tar. In this analysis of the development and popularization of the sailor’s characters a number of contemporary sources are utilized. The careful selection and examination of ten satirical prints, or caricatures, form the core of the primary sources used in the writing of this thesis. In addition, an extensive review of recent and established scholarships on this subject has been examined to support the analysis. The result is a history of the British Tar’s depiction and characterization in contemporary political print during the Georgian Era.

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https://scholar.acadiau.ca/islandora/object/theses:621