How It Happened

by

Arthur Conan Doyle

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The Narrator Character Analysis

The narrator is the main character in “How It Happened,” though he remains unnamed throughout. He tells his story through a writing medium, recounting the events that led up to and following his death in a car accident. The narrator is wealthy, as shown by his expensive car, gated residence, and chauffeur, though his occupation is never mentioned. His privilege and entitlement fuel his arrogance and impulsivity, causing him to believe that he can act without consequence, never having to pay the “full price” for his actions. This belief is disproven, however, when he ignores his chauffeur Perkins’s warnings and chooses to drive his new car, leading to his own death and Perkins’s injury. The car accident serves as a reminder that arrogance and impulsivity come with a price and can have grave consequences. Nevertheless, the consequences of the narrator’s actions do not follow him into the afterlife. The narrator passes away peacefully and painless and is greeted warmly by his deceased friend, Stanley.

The Narrator Quotes in How It Happened

The How It Happened quotes below are all either spoken by The Narrator or refer to The Narrator. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
Privilege, Arrogance, and Consequences Theme Icon
).
How It Happened Quotes

I can remember some things upon that evening most distinctly, and others are like some vague broken dreams. This is what makes it so difficult to tell a connected story.

Related Characters: The Narrator (speaker), The Writing Medium
Page Number: 204
Explanation and Analysis:

Then I remember the big motor, with its glaring headlights and glitter of polished brass, waiting for me outside. It was my new thirty-horse-power Robur, which had only been delivered that day.

Related Characters: The Narrator (speaker)
Related Symbols: The Robur (The Car)
Page Number: 204
Explanation and Analysis:

“I’ll try her myself,” said I, and I climbed into the driver’s seat.

“The gears are not the same,” said he. “Perhaps, sir, I had better drive.”

“No; I should like to try her,” said I.

Related Characters: The Narrator (speaker), Perkins (speaker)
Related Symbols: The Robur (The Car)
Page Number: 205
Explanation and Analysis:

It was foolish, no doubt, to begin to learn a new system in the dark, but one often does foolish things, and one has not always to pay the full price for them.

Related Characters: The Narrator (speaker)
Related Symbols: The Robur (The Car)
Page Number: 205
Explanation and Analysis:

“I’ll keep her steady,” said he, “if you care to jump and chance it. We can never get round that curve. Better jump, sir.”

“No,” said I; “I’ll stick it out. You can jump if you like.”

“I’ll stick it out with you, sir,” said he.

Related Characters: The Narrator (speaker), Perkins (speaker)
Related Symbols: The Robur (The Car)
Page Number: 206
Explanation and Analysis:

I remember thinking what an awful and yet majestic sight we should appear to any one who met us. It was a narrow road, and we were just a great, roaring, golden death to any one who came in our path.

Related Characters: The Narrator (speaker), Perkins
Related Symbols: The Robur (The Car)
Page Number: 206
Explanation and Analysis:

At the present moment I was surprised to see him, but I was like a man in a dream, giddy and shaken and quite prepared to take things as I found them without questioning them.

Related Characters: The Narrator (speaker), Stanley
Page Number: 207
Explanation and Analysis:

“Here I am,” I answered, but they did not seem to hear me. They were all bending over something which lay in front of the car.

Related Characters: The Narrator (speaker), Perkins , The Lodgekeeper
Related Symbols: The Robur (The Car)
Page Number: 208
Explanation and Analysis:

“Stanley! I cried, and the words seemed to choke my throat – “Stanley you are dead.”

He looked at me with the same old gentle, wistful smile.

“So are you,” he answered.

Related Characters: The Narrator (speaker), Stanley (speaker)
Page Number: 208
Explanation and Analysis:
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How It Happened PDF

The Narrator Quotes in How It Happened

The How It Happened quotes below are all either spoken by The Narrator or refer to The Narrator. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
Privilege, Arrogance, and Consequences Theme Icon
).
How It Happened Quotes

I can remember some things upon that evening most distinctly, and others are like some vague broken dreams. This is what makes it so difficult to tell a connected story.

Related Characters: The Narrator (speaker), The Writing Medium
Page Number: 204
Explanation and Analysis:

Then I remember the big motor, with its glaring headlights and glitter of polished brass, waiting for me outside. It was my new thirty-horse-power Robur, which had only been delivered that day.

Related Characters: The Narrator (speaker)
Related Symbols: The Robur (The Car)
Page Number: 204
Explanation and Analysis:

“I’ll try her myself,” said I, and I climbed into the driver’s seat.

“The gears are not the same,” said he. “Perhaps, sir, I had better drive.”

“No; I should like to try her,” said I.

Related Characters: The Narrator (speaker), Perkins (speaker)
Related Symbols: The Robur (The Car)
Page Number: 205
Explanation and Analysis:

It was foolish, no doubt, to begin to learn a new system in the dark, but one often does foolish things, and one has not always to pay the full price for them.

Related Characters: The Narrator (speaker)
Related Symbols: The Robur (The Car)
Page Number: 205
Explanation and Analysis:

“I’ll keep her steady,” said he, “if you care to jump and chance it. We can never get round that curve. Better jump, sir.”

“No,” said I; “I’ll stick it out. You can jump if you like.”

“I’ll stick it out with you, sir,” said he.

Related Characters: The Narrator (speaker), Perkins (speaker)
Related Symbols: The Robur (The Car)
Page Number: 206
Explanation and Analysis:

I remember thinking what an awful and yet majestic sight we should appear to any one who met us. It was a narrow road, and we were just a great, roaring, golden death to any one who came in our path.

Related Characters: The Narrator (speaker), Perkins
Related Symbols: The Robur (The Car)
Page Number: 206
Explanation and Analysis:

At the present moment I was surprised to see him, but I was like a man in a dream, giddy and shaken and quite prepared to take things as I found them without questioning them.

Related Characters: The Narrator (speaker), Stanley
Page Number: 207
Explanation and Analysis:

“Here I am,” I answered, but they did not seem to hear me. They were all bending over something which lay in front of the car.

Related Characters: The Narrator (speaker), Perkins , The Lodgekeeper
Related Symbols: The Robur (The Car)
Page Number: 208
Explanation and Analysis:

“Stanley! I cried, and the words seemed to choke my throat – “Stanley you are dead.”

He looked at me with the same old gentle, wistful smile.

“So are you,” he answered.

Related Characters: The Narrator (speaker), Stanley (speaker)
Page Number: 208
Explanation and Analysis: