Captain Scott's Image: Charting a Century of Change

Were Scott and his Polar party 'five brave men who sacrificed their lives in a great adventure'�? Was this a tragedy in which 'Courage, determination, and the highest sense of duty were defeated in the worst weather of the most savage climate in the world. No men could have endured more: none ever set a nobler example of heroism and devotion.'� (Du Garde Peach 1963:50) Or was the real tragedy 'that neither Scott or his men needed to die!!'�: 'Unfortunately he lacked originality and lost his common sense so early in the expedition that he repeated mistake after mistake. Finally he would listen to no one and became blind to reality and in doing so killed his men. There is no doubt the blame for the disaster rests squarely on Scott's shoulders.'� (Reaney 2010:127) The way Scott and his expedition have been portrayed over the past hundred years has changed dramatically. This critical review traces the portrayals of Scott from 'hero to fool'�, and reasons for the changes through to the current rehabilitation of Scott's reputation and recognition of his long term legacy. Debates have emerged over the years resulting from these changing perceptions and different accounts taken of the cultural, political and economic contexts of Scott's time. The rise, fall and more recent restoration of Scott's heroic image is charted. The period of the review spans the heroic era of exploration to the present day. It draws from selected books, diaries, reviews, journal articles, press, film and television over this period, and also recent museum exhibitions