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Cartoon, The Dryads of Disfranchisement
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Cartoon, The Dryads of Disfranchisement
Cartoon, The Dryads of Disfranchisement -- a satirical comment on threatened constituencies and their respective MPs (Totnes, Wakefield, Yarmouth, Calne and Wells). Benjamin Disraeli stands ready with an axe to chop them down -- Oh, Woodman, spare this tree! Date: 1867
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Media ID 23361430
© Mary Evans Picture Library
1867 Benjamin Boundary Change Comment Commons Conservative Democracy Disraeli Parliament Power Reform Satire Satirical Tory Westminster 1860s
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EDITORS COMMENTS
This satirical cartoon, titled "Cartoon, The Dryads of Disfranchisement," was published in 1867 and offers a scathing commentary on the political climate of the time, specifically targeting the threatened constituencies and their respective Members of Parliament (MPs) from Totnes, Wakefield, Yarmouth, Calne, and Wells. In the image, Benjamin Disraeli, the Conservative Prime Minister, stands menacingly with an axe, poised to chop down the trees representing these constituencies. The trees, or "Dryads" as they are labeled, plead for their lives, with one tree even reaching out to Disraeli with the desperate plea, "Oh, Woodman, spare this tree!" The cartoon serves as a critique of the political maneuvering and manipulation of electoral boundaries, known as gerrymandering, which was a common tactic used during the Victorian era to favor one political party over another. The cartoonist uses the metaphor of trees to represent constituencies, highlighting the potential destruction of democratic representation and the power imbalance between the government and the people. The year 1867 was a significant one in British politics, as it saw the passing of the Reform Act, which expanded the franchise and increased the representation of urban areas. However, this expansion was not evenly distributed, and some areas, like those depicted in the cartoon, were left behind. The cartoon serves as a reminder of the ongoing struggle for democratic representation and the importance of holding those in power accountable to the people they serve.
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