Loyalty, Selfishness, and Inequality Theme Analysis

In “How It Happened” by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, the narrator fails to reciprocate the loyalty and respect of his chauffeur, Perkins, suggesting that the narrator does not see Perkins as an equal. In the beginning of the story, for instance, the narrator disregards Perkins’s warning about the dangers of driving the new car, revealing a lack of respect for Perkins’s counsel in addition to his wellbeing. Later, when they are in a dangerous situation while driving down Claystall Hill, Perkins offers to take control of the car and let the narrator jump to safety. Given that he has no personal responsibility for the situation, this offer reveals a great degree of loyalty on Perkin’s part; he is willing to risk his life for someone who, on an arrogant whim, has endangered him. Like his earlier dismissal of Perkins’s warning, however, the narrator rejects this offer, arrogantly believing that he is just as capable as Perkins of driving them to safety. Though both may have survived if the narrator let Perkins take the wheel, the narrator himself fails to recognize the wisdom of Perkins’s offer, resulting in his death and Perkins’s injury. Likewise, though the narrator reciprocates Perkins’s offer, the gesture does not have the same significance because the narrator has already committed to staying in the car: whether or not Perkins jumps has no impact on the narrator’s own wellbeing, so the narrator’s offer isn’t a true sacrifice—it’s just a hardheaded refusal to relinquish control of the car. While both men make gestures of loyalty that might seem similar, then, it is only Perkins who shows true loyalty. In fact, the narrator’s offer only emphasizes his position of authority, as he refuses to give up control even in a crucial moment. As such, the story highlights the stark contrast between the narrator and Perkins, suggesting that the narrator’s power as an elite employer leads him to disregard Perkins’s wellbeing while also foolishly putting himself in danger.