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Modern Views of the Heroic Age
For many years the image of Scott as hero was kept alive by books, radio plays, and films. However, in the 1970s Scott’s character was deconstructed in a manner which would never have been thought possible during the heroic age. Roland Huntford published a book in 1979 called Scott and Amundsen, which highlighted a shift in British sensibilities. Huntford did not praise Scott for his heroic deeds, but rather reassessed his character, rendering Scott a bumbling fool whose mistakes cost his men’s lives. Scott’s character had taken on an almost mythical status and the history of the period may have required some revision. However, Huntford went too far and his polemical book sought to destroy Scott’s reputation without having the full evidence to support his claims. More recently, books by Sir Ranulph Fiennes and Susan Solomon have painted a more favourable picture of Scott. Readers today have a wealth of published sources from which a more balanced picture of Scott emerges, which acknowledges his flaws but also his strengths and the lasting influence of his discoveries on Antarctic science.
As Scott’s image has waned in the public eye, Shackleton’s has risen. In the past Shackleton lacked recognition when compared to Scott. Shackleton is now exalted as having great leadership skills and inspiring others to do well. Today Scott and Shackleton are often pitted against each other; Shackleton’s qualities are often listed as the ones Scott lacked. However, there is no reason why both men cannot be appreciated for their achievements. There can be no doubt that they were very different men undertaking similar tasks in different ways, but this does not necessarily mean one was better than the other. We do not need to choose between Shackleton and Scott, rather we can appreciate them both as much for their differences as for their achievements.
Today’s technological improvements mean it is no longer necessary to undergo the risks that expeditions did during the heroic age. These men undertook arduous and strenuous journeys without the improvements in nutrition, transport, communication, shelter, and clothing that have revolutionised modern polar exploration. However, had explorers in the heroic age not taken risks we would not know as much about Antarctica, for exploration in Antarctica was not all about reaching the South Pole. These expeditions produced a large amount of scientific data across many disciplines, as well as mapping large areas of an unknown land. Scott’s final voyage is often classed as a race with Amundsen, however, many of the men on the expedition said that Scott never saw the expedition as a race. Scott had hoped to be the first to the Pole, but he also wanted to find out more about Antarctica and oversaw scientific experiments. Amundsen had one goal, to be the first to the South Pole. If Scott’s main concern had been to reach the Pole first he could have abandoned the scientific aim of his expedition; however, he did not. Even when they were struggling on their return journey they dragged a sledge with thirty-five pounds of geological specimens to their final camp. These specimens have been significant in demonstrating tectonic theory. The fossilised leaves and samples of coal are key pieces of evidence in the theory of the supercontinent Gondwana, linking Australia, Antarctica, Africa, Indian and South America.
Today Britain is a very different place and polar exploration takes a very different form. However, polar exploration today is informed by the courageous exploits of the expeditions of the heroic age. Many of the images in the Freeze Frame collection are a testament to this, and help us to appreciate the difficulties and hardships faced by the early explorers in furthering our knowledge of the polar regions.
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