The Storming of Seringapatam

The Storming of Seringapatam

This is the first illustration that appears in Harper’s Weekly’s publication of The Moonstone. Combined with the other two images on this first page, the illustration sets the tone for the series’ representation of the novel’s Indian characters. Here, two Indians are pictured praying before a large statue of a Hindu deity. Another Indian kneels by what appears to be burning incense, his hands outstretched in supplication towards the deity. It is a peaceful, yet ominous scene. Note the deity’s downcast countenance; it looks as though it foresees the impending assault. The illustrators use prolepsis here to garner sympathy for the Indians, and animosity towards the British. According to the explanatory notes in the Oxford edition of The Moonstone, this deity, “later identified as Vishnu the Preserver…[is meant to be] represented in a black or blue colour, with four arms and a club to punish the wicked” (Sutherland 470). Harper’s presents a fairly accurate depiction, but the statue has a fat belly and a wideset head.  It is supposed to be a goddess but has masculine features. It looks more like the Buddha than Hindu depictions of Vishnu, which suggests the editors’ ignorance of Hinduism, and an Orientalist mindset.

Archives and Special Collections

Calgary: University of Calgary

Migliarese, Mico

http://library.ucalgary.ca/copyright/images

English

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