News Article: Amidst the Ice Again

This article talks about how the USA was continuing to explore for “an open polar sea”. However, instead, the “discoveries have been less of an open sea than of a new polar continent; but they are important steps in Arctic exploration, and add considerably to the world’s geographical knowledge as well as to the world’s known surface”. This shows that the USA was still not fully aware of the size of the earth, and there was still more to be explored. Thus, exploring was a central point of concern for the USA.

The image accompanying the article also romanticizes exploration. The boat is in the center, and there is a stark color contrast from the dark boat to the white icebergs. This draws the viewer's eyes to the boat right away.  It’s also important to note that regarding proportions, the boat is bigger than some of the icebergs, which portrays it as powerful. 

This article talks about the importance of exploration, which would greatly influence how one would read The Moonstone. The article romanticizes and celebrates exploration, which would make the exotic elements in The Moonstone exciting for readers. It would make the “otherness” of the Indians more exciting for readers, as well as making the Moonstone itself more exotic, since it’s a gem that was acquired through exploration. By romanticizing exploration and heightening the exotic themes in The Moonstone, the sensationalism of the novel becomes more prevalent.