Appearance
Excerpt
Excerpt from The Dynamiter, by Robert Louis Stevenson
TO
MESSRS. COLE AND COX,
POLICE OFFICERS
Gentlemen,—In the volume now in your hands, the authors have touched
upon that ugly devil of crime, with which it is your glory to have
contended. It were a waste of ink to do so in a serious spirit. Let
us dedicate our horror to acts of a more mingled strain, where crime
preserves some features of nobility, and where reason and humanity can
still relish the temptation. Horror, in this case, is due to Mr.
Parnell: he sits before posterity silent, Mr. Forster’s appeal
echoing down the ages. Horror is due to ourselves, in that we have
so long coquetted with political crime; not seriously weighing, not
acutely following it from cause to consequence; but with a generous,
unfounded heat of sentiment, like the schoolboy with the penny tale,
applauding what was specious. When it touched ourselves (truly in a
vile shape), we proved false to the imaginations; discovered, in a
clap, that crime was no less cruel and no less ugly under sounding
names; and recoiled from our false deities.
But seriousness comes most in place when we are to speak of our
defenders. Whoever be in the right in this great and confused war of
politics; whatever elements of greed, whatever traits of the bully,
dishonour both parties in this inhuman contest;—your side, your
part, is at least pure of doubt. Yours is the side of the child,
of the breeding woman, of individual pity and public trust. If our
society were the mere kingdom of the devil (as indeed it wears some of
his colours) it yet embraces many precious elements and many innocent
persons whom it is a glory to defend. Courage and devotion, so
common in the ranks of the police, so little recognised, so meagrely
rewarded, have at length found their commemoration in an historical
act. History, which will represent Mr. Parnell sitting silent under
the appeal of Mr. Forster, and Gordon setting forth upon his tragic
enterprise, will not forget Mr. Cole carrying the dynamite in his
defenceless hands, nor Mr. Cox coming coolly to his aid.
Explanation
This excerpt is the dedication from The Dynamiter (1885), a collaborative novel by Robert Louis Stevenson and his stepson, Lloyd Osbourne. The work is a satirical adventure story centered on anarchist bombings in London, blending dark humor, political commentary, and thriller elements. The dedication is addressed to two real-life police officers, Cole and Cox, who were involved in disarming a dynamite bomb in 1884—a high-profile incident tied to the Fenian dynamite campaign, a series of terrorist attacks by Irish republicans targeting British infrastructure.
Stevenson’s dedication is not just a tribute but a complex meditation on crime, morality, and heroism, reflecting the political tensions of late 19th-century Britain. Below is a detailed breakdown of the text, focusing on its rhetorical strategies, themes, and implications.
1. Context: The Fenian Dynamite Campaign & Political Climate
- The Fenian Brotherhood (an Irish republican group) conducted a bombing campaign in London (1881–1885), targeting symbols of British power (e.g., Scotland Yard, the Houses of Parliament).
- The British public and press were divided: some saw the Fenians as freedom fighters, others as terrorists. Stevenson’s dedication engages with this moral ambiguity.
- Charles Stewart Parnell, the Irish nationalist leader, was implicated in supporting violence (though he later distanced himself). His silence during debates on Fenianism became a symbol of moral evasion.
- William Forster, Chief Secretary for Ireland, condemned Parnell’s association with violence in a famous 1881 speech, demanding he disavow the Fenians.
- Inspector Cole and Sergeant Cox were real officers who disarmed a live bomb in 1884, risking their lives—a act that Stevenson elevates as true heroism amid political chaos.
2. Themes in the Excerpt
A. The Nature of Crime & Moral Ambiguity
- Stevenson rejects simplistic villainy, arguing that crime can sometimes appear "noble" or tempting when wrapped in political or ideological justifications.
- "where crime preserves some features of nobility, and where reason and humanity can still relish the temptation" → This suggests that violence for a cause (e.g., Irish independence) can be romanticized, making it harder to condemn outright.
- He criticizes the public’s hypocrisy: Britons cheered revolutionary violence in abstract (e.g., in penny dreadfuls or foreign struggles) but recoiled when it struck home.
- "We have so long coquetted with political crime… applauding what was specious" → The word "coquetted" implies a flirtatious, superficial engagement with radicalism—until it becomes personal and ugly.
B. The Horror of Political Violence
- Stevenson condemns the Fenian bombings but also implicates British society for its complicity in fostering such extremism.
- "Horror is due to ourselves, in that we have… not seriously weighing, not acutely following it from cause to consequence" → The failure to address root causes (e.g., Irish oppression) allowed violence to fester.
- The reference to Parnell’s silence and Forster’s appeal is damning:
- Parnell’s refusal to denounce violence is framed as a moral failure that will haunt history.
- "Mr. Forster’s appeal echoing down the ages" → Forster’s demand for accountability becomes a prophetic warning ignored at society’s peril.
C. The Purity of the Police as Defenders
- Unlike politicians and the public, Cole and Cox represent untainted heroism.
- "Your side, your part, is at least pure of doubt." → Their motives are clear: protecting the vulnerable ("the child, the breeding woman") rather than serving political agendas.
- Stevenson contrasts their courage with the cowardice of others:
- "Courage and devotion, so common in the ranks of the police, so little recognised, so meagrely rewarded" → The police are undervalued despite their selflessness, while politicians and radicals seek glory.
- The historical act (disarming the bomb) is immortalized alongside infamous moments (Parnell’s silence, General Gordon’s doomed mission in Sudan).
- "History… will not forget Mr. Cole carrying the dynamite in his defenceless hands" → Their physical bravery stands out in a world of moral and political corruption.
3. Literary Devices & Rhetorical Strategies
| Device | Example | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Juxtaposition | "Horror is due to Mr. Parnell… Horror is due to ourselves" | Forces the reader to compare political failure with personal hypocrisy. |
| Irony | "Let us dedicate our horror to acts of a more mingled strain" | Suggests that pure evil is rare; most crime is mixed with noble intentions, making it harder to judge. |
| Metaphor | "coquetted with political crime" | Frames society’s relationship with violence as a frivolous, dangerous flirtation. |
| Parallelism | "the child, of the breeding woman, of individual pity and public trust" | Elevates the police’s role as protectors of the innocent and societal values. |
| Historical Allusion | "Gordon setting forth upon his tragic enterprise" | References General Gordon’s death in Khartoum (1885), another failed heroic mission, to underscore the futility of unchecked idealism. |
| Sarcasm | "If our society were the mere kingdom of the devil (as indeed it wears some of his colours)" | Criticizes British society while acknowledging its moral flaws. |
4. Significance of the Passage
A. Stevenson’s Political Stance
- Stevenson rejects both blind nationalism and romanticized revolution.
- He sympathized with Irish grievances but condemned terrorism.
- The dedication challenges the reader to confront their own complicity in glorifying violence when it serves their narrative.
B. A Defense of Everyday Heroism
- Unlike politicians (Parnell) or adventurers (Gordon), Cole and Cox are ordinary men who acted extraordinarily.
- Stevenson elevates their quiet bravery over grand political gestures, suggesting true morality lies in action, not rhetoric.
C. A Warning About Moral Relativism
- The passage predicts the dangers of justifying violence for a "greater good."
- "We proved false to the imaginations; discovered, in a clap, that crime was no less cruel and no less ugly under sounding names" → This foreshadows 20th-century debates on terrorism, warfare, and propaganda, where language obscures brutality.
D. Literary Influence
- The Dynamiter is less remembered than Stevenson’s other works, but this dedication reveals his mature political thought.
- It prefigures modern discussions on:
- Terrorism vs. freedom fighting
- Media glorification of violence
- The role of law enforcement in a divided society
5. Key Takeaways from the Text Itself
- Crime is often seductive when wrapped in ideology—but its ugliness remains.
- Society is complicit when it romanticizes violence without facing its consequences.
- True heroism is found in those who act selflessly, not those who debate or exploit suffering.
- History will judge not just the criminals, but those who enabled them—through silence, apathy, or hypocrisy.
Stevenson’s dedication is not just a praise of Cole and Cox, but a challenge to the reader: When faced with political violence, will you be like Parnell (silent), the public (hypocritical), or the police (courageous)? The text demands moral clarity in an age of obfuscation and excuse-making.