Life — November 17, 1910 — page 12: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# "The Modern Dante" - Political Satire This satirical story follows a character named Mephistopheles (the devil figure from Faust legend) touring Hell, encountering various "undesirables" sent there as punishment. The narrative mocks early 20th-century social reformers and their targets. The three-panel cartoon at top titled "The Evolution of Man" satirizes Darwinian evolution by showing the progression from ape to gentleman to demon—suggesting moral devolution rather than progress. The lower illustration shows two well-dressed figures discussing hellish punishments. The caption "What's Sauce for the Goose is Sauce for the Gander" (a proverb about equal treatment) likely comments on hypocrisy in social judgment. The piece uses religious/mythological references to critique contemporary attitudes toward crime, punishment, and social "undesirables"—common Life magazine satirical targets during the Progressive Era.