Life — July 21, 1887 — page 7: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# Analysis of "The Effect of Alcohol" This cartoon satirizes upper-class social hypocrisy regarding alcohol consumption. The sketch depicts a fancy outdoor concert or garden party where elegantly dressed guests are gathered. The dialogue reveals the satire: a young man remarks that a "pretty girl leading the orchestra" smiled at him, and another asks why "Granny" came to the concert alone—implying alcohol's disinhibiting effects on proper behavior. The cartoon mocks the contradiction between Victorian propriety (formal dress, refined venues) and actual conduct when drinking occurs. The humor targets how alcohol loosens social restraint among the wealthy, making them behave contrary to their dignified appearances. It's social commentary on class and morality, suggesting respectability masks less virtuous reality.