‘How are we feeling today?’ – a British cartoon of early 1945.

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)

‘How are we feeling today?’ – a British cartoon of early 1945.

Denotation

The world has a bandage round his head and a thermometer in his mouth.

Connotation

The world has been poorly.

Meaning

The world has suffered fascism and six years of war.

‘How are we feeling today?’ – a British cartoon of early 1945.

Denotation

The world has a smile on his face and a glint in his eyes.

Connotation

The world is ‘feeling better’.

Meaning

Hitler and fascism are on the verge of defeat – the war is almost won, and the allies are about to destroy the ‘disease’ of fascism.

‘How are we feeling today?’ – a British cartoon of early 1945.

Denotation

Churchill, Roosevelt and Stalin are shown as doctors (note Stalin checking the pulse).

Connotation

Doctors are professional, clever, assured at caring for patients (so ‘Trust me, I’m a doctor’).

Meaning

This is a propaganda cartoon assuring the British people that they can trust the Big Three as they manage the allied war effort.

‘How are we feeling today?’ – a British cartoon of early 1945.

Denotation

Churchill, Roosevelt and Stalin are shown as doctors (note Stalin checking the pulse).

Connotation

The fact that they are smiling shows that are happy – and united.

Meaning

The alliance is secure and united.

‘How are we feeling today?’ – a British cartoon of early 1945.

Finally, always remember to look at:

Origin

(who drew it)

Date

(when it was published)

‘How are we feeling today?’ – a British cartoon of early 1945.

Date

Early 1945.

Details

About the time of the Yalta Conference – a time when the alliance was beginning to strain.

Significance

This is not a cartoon showing what was true, but what the British people hoped was true.

‘How are we feeling today?’ – a British cartoon of early 1945.

Origin

A British cartoon.

Details

The British at this time liked ‘Uncle Joe’, and believed they had a ‘special relationship’ with the USA.

Significance

This cartoon both exhibits British hopes for the alliance, and is propaganda to assure them that all was well.

‘How are we feeling today?’ – a British cartoon of early 1945.