Craik, Dinah Maria Mulock. The Little Lame Prince. Illustrated by Etheldred B. Barry, D.C. Heath & Co., 1910, p. 127. Internet Archive, archive.org/details/littlelameprinc01craigoog/page/n139/mode/2up.
Prince Dolor’s portrayal in the image encapsulates Craik’s redefinition of masculinity: a form of leadership rooted in imaginative empathy and moral vision rather than traditional, muscular prowess. Rather than exuding physical strength through overt displays of power, his dignified yet approachable presence and the subtle cues of vulnerability (such as his reliance on a supportive entourage) echo the narrative’s insistence that true manliness is forged in the crucible of tenderness and creative insight. As Lily Philipose argues in her article on the politics of domesticity in Craik’s work, the disabled protagonist is emblematic of a “masculinity” that can “afford to be tender because he was strong,” redefining kingship as a synthesis of moral sensitivity and empathetic leadership. In this light, the image of Prince Dolor visually reinforces the thesis that manliness can transcend the limitations of physicality; transforming traditional ideals into a domain where the ethical and imaginative dimensions of rule are just as, if not more, vital.