Judge — November 17, 1894 — page 1: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# "Sympathy" Cartoon Analysis This November 17, 1894 *Judge* cartoon satirizes suicide as a social contagion. The central image depicts a distressed figure comforting what appears to be a demon or death personification, with a sign reading "IS SUICIDE A SIN" visible above them. The caption "Together we fell" suggests mutual moral collapse. The cartoon criticizes what the artist saw as widespread suicide occurring in society, treating it as a shared social malady affecting both the desperate individual and moral/religious authority. The small inset cartoon labeled "Judge" dated October 13 appears to reference related commentary. The satire likely responds to actual suicide epidemics reported in 1890s newspapers, which often sparked public debate about whether publicizing such deaths encouraged imitation. The cartoon warns against moral complicity in these tragedies.