This cartoon – entitled ‘Moral Persuasion’ appeared in the British satirical magazine

Punch

in July 1920.

The rabbit says: "My offensive equipment being practically nil, it remains for me to fascinate him with the power of my eye."

What is the message of this cartoon?

To do this question, you need first to borrow two concepts from English:

Denotation

(what you see)

Connotation

(how it affects its audience)

This cartoon – entitled ‘Moral Persuasion’ appeared in the British satirical magazine

Punch

in July 1920.

The rabbit says: "My offensive equipment being practically nil, it remains for me to fascinate him with the power of my eye."

Denotation

A rabbit, representing the League of Nations.

Connotation

Rabbits are weak, and known for running away and hiding.

Meaning

The League is weak.

This cartoon – entitled ‘Moral Persuasion’ appeared in the British satirical magazine

Punch

in July 1920.

The rabbit says: "My offensive equipment being practically nil, it remains for me to fascinate him with the power of my eye."

Denotation

A snake, representing ‘international strife’ (i.e. war).

Connotation

Snakes are powerful and evil, and they eat rabbits.

Meaning

The League is too weak to expect it to be able to stop war.

This cartoon – entitled ‘Moral Persuasion’ appeared in the British satirical magazine

Punch

in July 1920.

The rabbit says: "My offensive equipment being practically nil, it remains for me to fascinate him with the power of my eye."

Denotation

The rabbit (knowing it has no weapons) is preparing to try to hypnotise the snake.

Connotation

IDIOCY! Snakes hypnotise their prey, and rabbits ‘freeze’ with fear – the rabbit is going to be killed.

Meaning

‘Moral persuasion’ will never prevent war, and it will be the League which is destroyed.

This cartoon – entitled ‘Moral Persuasion’ appeared in the British satirical magazine

Punch

in July 1920.

The rabbit says: "My offensive equipment being practically nil, it remains for me to fascinate him with the power of my eye."

Finally, always remember to look at:

Origin

(who drew it)

Date

(when it was published)

This cartoon – entitled ‘Moral Persuasion’ appeared in the British satirical magazine

Punch

in July 1920.

The rabbit says: "My offensive equipment being practically nil, it remains for me to fascinate him with the power of my eye."

Origin

An artist in the magazine

Punch

.

Details

A British comic/political magazine.

Significance

This cartoon shows the British felt the League would fail.

This cartoon – entitled ‘Moral Persuasion’ appeared in the British satirical magazine

Punch

in July 1920.

The rabbit says: "My offensive equipment being practically nil, it remains for me to fascinate him with the power of my eye."

Date

July 1920.

Details

Poland, Russia and Czechoslovakia were at war and the League could not stop it.

Significance

This showed the British public’s disappointment that the League seemed unable to stop war.

This cartoon – entitled ‘Moral Persuasion’ appeared in the British satirical magazine

Punch

in July 1920.

The rabbit says: "My offensive equipment being practically nil, it remains for me to fascinate him with the power of my eye."