Cartoons And Synthesis Essay

As has been shown before, cartoons enable Punch to propagate its views in an eye-catching way. The cartoons mentioned earlier all emphasise the power of Britain and the ‘savagery’ of the rebels, (figure XX, XX, XX, XX) and/or present the metropolis as a righteous nation who is wronged by colonial protestors and their unpatriotic British supporters (figure XX, XX). Visuals are more striking than texts, usually rather easy to understand at one glance, and therefore more efficient in provoking reactions. This is why cartoons play on an emotional dimension – the suffering of women and children at the hands of the sepoys, or the unfairness of accusing Eyre before he can account for himself – to convey the necessity of redressing the harm done …show more content…
In ‘A Caution to Governors,’ Reverend Snuffles and Mr Cooper respectively side with the Jamaica Committee and with the Eyre Defence Committee, leading to a debate in which each presents his argument, with Cooper having the last word. In another such play, Bradshaw and Stokes consider going to Exeter Hall to listen to a conference held by ‘solemn buffoons, and hear them, seriously, with grave faces, and probably under violent excitement, declaim in strong language attended with furious gesticulations. In a scene on the stage they would make the people roar.’ (“A Conversation on Killjoys”) The two men are taunting the fanaticism of the philanthropists, who are so extreme in their arguments that they become ridiculous. However, the fun soon turns bittersweet when Bradshaw coolly points out the dangerous consequences that listening too benevolently to Exeter Hall's recriminations could have on Britain's own government. If both characters are fictional, the warning with which they conclude their conversation is very much anchored in reality; it is directly aimed at Punch's readers in order to deter them from placing any confidence in the