Queen Victoria's Little Wars Essay

One of Byron Farwell’s ingenious masterpieces, Queen Victoria’s Little Wars, centered in on the tragedies that were the Victorian Era. Through extensive detail and impeccable descriptions, this novel articulates both positive and negative views of these events. Seeing as wars were prominent throughout the entire book, one of the major focal points was the reasons behind them. Not only were the causes of great importance, but the objectives of the people participating as well. Along with their intentions, their loyalty was also tied in closely. Though causes of war ran in abundance, Farwell placed a ring of importance on a few specific causes. The expansion of present empires was one of the leading causes of war. Byron proved this by

In quite a few cases, people had disproven their trustworthiness. Early in the novel, Farwell discussed this with the lines, “Britons did not hesitate to exchange their bowlers for turbans, tarbushes, or mandarin caps if only they were given men whom they could lead into battle,” (3). That quote elucidates how the love of power can override even as simple of a trait as loyalty. The reliability of people could also be tested by means of rebellion. When the book read, “The mutineers, after killing most of their own European officers and any other Europeans they found unprotected, marched off that night for Delhi…” (87), it became clear to the reader that these mutineers had one goal. Regardless of the impact that their rebellion would have on their own people, the hearts of these men lay within another side. On the contrary, there were a myriad of people that proved their devotion. One scenario featured, “…the native officers in the cavalry and artillery pledged their personal loyalty by signing a guarantee…” (96). Men signing a pledge of loyalty blatantly demonstrates their patriotism for their side. Thus, the loyalty of men, especially in a time of war, is crucial under many