Grace Darling


The Aftermath

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Following Grace’s deed, the nation went into hyperbolic acclaim for the light house heroine who had captured their hearts. Due to the development of the printing press and the abolition of newspaper taxation, meant that distribution and circulation of the press was far more swift than ever before. This resulted in the news of Grace's deed reaching the public fairly quickly. Within a week the majority of the nation were in awe over this young woman who had demonstrated strength and courage. They wanted to know more and soon Grace fever was evident.

Above is an article from The Times on the19th September 1838, which was one of many newspapers to show their admiration for Grace. Note the praise used to describe Grace and the comparison made with past heroines - 'Is there in the whole field of history, or of fiction even, one instance of female heroism to compare for one moment with this?'



Commercialism 

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As a result of Grace's deed, the rise of commercialism took her under its wing and mass produced goods associated with her name. She became an instant money maker and presented the rise of celebrity culture and exploitation.  Many of these artefacts romanticise the deed and exaggerated it in order to attract customers, such as these pictures which show how Grace's name was even used on products such as soap and pens. Conversely, Grace shunned public notice and shut herself away in her lighthouse until her death four years later. Travelling writer, William Howitt describes the effect she had on the nation in Visits to remarkable places: old halls, battlefields and scenes illustrative of striking passages in history and poetry: 

"The applause which has been the consequence of her truly gallant exploit; the admiration which ran through the whole kingdom...and pieces of the rock on which she lives; those, and the foolish, though natural avidity of the mob of wonder-lovers, who in steamboat-loads have flocked thither, filling that tall lighthouse several stories high, till no body could stir; the attentions of the great – for the tiled have not failed to pay her the homage of their flatteries..."

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