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Why aren t they in the Honours List? H. M Bateman WW1 cartoon
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Why aren t they in the Honours List? H. M Bateman WW1 cartoon
" Civilian Heroes of the Great War" Batemans WWI illustrations often mock the upper classes for their oblivion to the true extent to which ordinary people were suffering during the war. The two captions are laden with sarcasm, as the pictures show a series of wealthy people indulging in extra sugar with their tea, extra food with dinner, before lastly showing a man feeling very generous after the token gesture of tipping a taxi driver twopence. With compulsory rationing introduced that same year, Bateman clearly saw the rich as not having too hard a time of it. Date: 1918
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Media ID 14230283
© Estate of H M Bateman/ILN/Mary Evans Picture Library
Affluent Bateman Civilian Civilians Classes Driver Extra Heroes Honours List Sarcasm Satire Satirical Sugar Taxi Upper
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Why Aren't They in the Honours List?
EDITORS COMMENTS
: A Satirical Look at the Oblivious Upper Classes during WWI This thought-provoking and satirical cartoon by H.M. Bateman, titled "Why Aren't They in the Honours List?", is a poignant commentary on the obliviousness of the upper classes during World War I. Dated 1918, this illustration is a powerful reminder of the stark contrast between the privileged few and the suffering masses. The cartoon is a series of three images, each one more sarcastic than the last. The first shows a woman adding an extra lump of sugar to her tea, with the caption "Why aren't they in the Honours List?". The second image depicts a man enjoying an extra helping of food at dinner, with the same question posed. The final image is perhaps the most poignant, as a well-dressed man tips a taxi driver twopence, with the caption "Why, in the name of mercy, aren't they in the Honours List?". The satire in this cartoon is palpable. Bateman's use of sarcasm and irony highlights the stark contrast between the luxurious lifestyles of the wealthy and the hardships faced by ordinary people during the war. With compulsory rationing having been introduced that same year, Bateman's message is clear: the rich were not suffering in the same way as the rest of the population. This cartoon is a powerful reminder of the sacrifices made by civilians during WWI, and the stark divide between the classes. Bateman's use of satire and humor serves to highlight the absurdity of the situation and to challenge the complacency of the upper classes. This image is a valuable historical document, shedding light on the social and political climate of the time and providing a unique perspective on the human experience of the Great War.
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