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Cartoon, The Belle of the Season (Russell and Reform)
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Cartoon, The Belle of the Season (Russell and Reform)
Cartoon, The Belle of the Season -- a satirical comment on Lord John Russells promise that reform measures will be taken in the next parliamentary session. However, his idea of reform is shown to be rather unappealing, and a working man toy discarded on the floor does not bode well for an extension of the franchise in that direction. Date: 1866
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Media ID 23358594
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1866 Bill Business Coming Comment Debutante Electoral Enfranchisement Franchise Legislation Liberal Plain Reform Ridicule Ridiculous Satire Satirical Scrawny Skinny Suffrage 1860s
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EDITORS COMMENTS
The Belle of the Season: A Satirical Comment on Lord John Russell's Promise of Reform in 1866 This intriguing political cartoon, titled "The Belle of the Season," was published in 1866, during a time of intense political debate and anticipation for reform measures in the United Kingdom. The cartoon, created in the satirical style popular during the Victorian era, offers a scathing critique of Lord John Russell's plans for parliamentary reform. Russell, a prominent Liberal Party leader, had recently pledged that reform legislation would be introduced in the next session. However, this cartoon exposes the flawed nature of his proposed reforms. In the image, Russell is depicted as the "Belle of the Season," a debutante dressed in elegant attire, holding out a thin, unappetizing bill as an offering to the working class man at her feet. The man, portrayed as a skinny, scrawny, and plain figure, appears discarded and overlooked, with a toy representing the electoral franchise lying forgotten on the floor. The cartoon's satirical commentary on Russell's reform measures is clear: the reforms are presented as unappealing and insufficient, with the working class being left out in the cold. The image serves as a powerful reminder of the political climate during the 1860s, where the struggle for enfranchisement and suffrage was a contentious issue, and the voices of the working class were often ignored or dismissed by the ruling elite. The cartoon's title, "The Belle of the Season," is a clever play on words, as "belle" can mean both a beautiful woman and a fashionable event. In this context, it highlights the absurdity of Russell's promises of reform, which are portrayed as nothing more than an empty gesture, a fashionable event devoid of substance or genuine concern for the working class. Overall, this cartoon offers a fascinating glimpse into the political discourse of the time and the role of satire in shaping public opinion.
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