Judge — March 1, 1930 — page 12: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# Analysis: "Pete—The Worm Turns" This Judge cartoon depicts a figure (Pete) experiencing a reversal of fortune. The narrative progresses from Pete being mistreated at fruit stands (top panels), where he appears to be a customer or worker, through increasingly severe consequences—being thrown out, falling, hiding, and ultimately appearing destitute in natural settings. The title "the worm turns" references the proverb about a worm eventually fighting back when pushed too far. However, rather than Pete gaining victory, the cartoon shows continued degradation and suffering. This appears to be satirizing either a specific public figure or the general fate of someone pushed to society's margins—suggesting that even when the "worm turns," consequences prove inescapable. The exact identity of Pete remains unclear from the image alone.