Life — May 18, 1893 — page 10: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# Political Cartoon Analysis This political cartoon depicts **Cholera** as a grim reaper figure with dark, skeletal wings looming over a densely packed city and approaching masses of people (shown as dots representing crowds or soldiers). On the right, armed military or government figures stand guard near large spheres labeled with dollar amounts ($1,000, $2,000, $6,000), suggesting **wealth or resources** being protected or hoarded. The caption "WHY SHOULD WE FEAR?" appears at the bottom, indicating ironic commentary—likely satirizing government complacency or the wealthy's false sense of security regarding a cholera epidemic. The cartoon criticizes how those with money or power believed themselves protected from disease that threatened common people, mocking the notion that wealth could shield one from a contagious epidemic affecting entire populations.