"How It Happened" is author Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's short story about being a man and having pride in one's masculinity. The short story follows an unnamed man, who is the protagonist and narrator of the story, who one day decides to take his brand new car on a drive with his trusty chauffeur, Perkins.
However, Perkins warns the man that his new car is not what he is used to. As a result of the car's new gear system, Perkins says that the man ought not to drive his car and that he should allow Perkins to drive it back home. The man, in turn, refuses Perkins's offer. "No," the man says, "I should like to try her," which suggests that the man is arrogant, macho, and unwilling to accept help from those who offer it to him. In other words, he is a prideful man because of his gender and societal status.
Despite his faults, the man is loyal, which is one of the themes that the short story explores. Even though he didn't listen to Perkins when Perkins told him that he shouldn't drive the car, the man was willing to face the consequences of his actions. When Perkins offered to take control of the car and bear the brunt of the impending crash, the man declines because he is so loyal to Perkins. He loves Perkins and doesn't feel it is fair for Perkins to feel the consequences of the man's actions.
Ultimately, the two crash in the car together—with the man driving. However, only Perkins is injured; the man is not injured as a result of the crash. However, the man does interact with a former friend named Stanley, who also died in a car crash. From that interaction, the man discovers the importance of listening to those around him and not giving in to machismo inclinations. In the end, proving yourself doesn't matter when you are dead (something that Stanley learned the hard way).
