Mussolini
Published 1941
Context: Calling into question Mussolini's masculinity and true grit
Symbolism: Mussolini extends his arm in the years 1926, 1936, and 1938 to symbolize a larger fascist regime and his yearning to make a country as good as his counterpart, Hitler.
Exaggeration: Herblock greatly over exaggerates his strength throughout each year in the illustration. He's doing this as an overbearing irony because throughout Mussolini's reign he greatly bluffed the strength of his troops and country as a whole.
Labeling: Herblock is constantly drawing Italian flags throughout this illustration making Mussolini's allegiance more than clear. Also at the end of the cartoon Mussolini states "We weren't ready" which further insinuates that all of the army?nation building he was doing actually meant nothing.
Analogy: Could not be Identified
Irony: Irony is expressed in the cartoon through how masculine and alpha Mussolini is portrayed up until the point where it's time time to fight where upon he becomes a coward.
Purpose of Cartoon:
What issue is this political cartoon about?
Italy who is supposed to be Germany's main supporter within the Axis powers, wasn't even ready to wage war when the time came.
What do you think is the cartoonist’s opinion on this issue?
Since he essentially makes a fool out Mussolini at the end of it,We don't think he thinks very much of Italy as a fighting power
What other opinion can you imagine another person having on this issue?
That it was Hitler's fault for going to war without Mussolini's consent, therefore he shouldn't be held accountable for not being ready to engage in war.
Did you find this cartoon persuasive? Why or why not?
Yes, it reminds you of the extensive amount of time Mussolini actually had to build a a strong military but did not.
What other techniques could the cartoonist have used to make this cartoon more persuasive?
A parallel of what Germany was doing during these years would really show how little Mussolini contributed to his country.