Life — April 20, 1916 — page 7: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# Life Magazine Page Analysis This page features Shakespeare-themed content with satirical commentary on preparedness and modern theater life. The top cartoon shows a large crowd of people carrying signs (labeled "CLUBS," "SOCIETIES," "COMMISSIONS") being chased by a single figure running ahead—a visual joke about how preparedness initiatives proliferate bureaucratically while actual action lags behind. Below, Shakespeare quotes humorously apply classical military wisdom to modern life, suggesting people cite high literature to justify everyday concerns. The left illustration depicts "The Boyhood of William Shakespeare" in a comic style, showing young Shakespeare with a nurse or caretaker—likely a humorous speculation on his upbringing. The right photograph, captioned "Lovers Once But Strangers Now," shows two figures at a theater stage entrance amid promotional posters, illustrating romantic disappointment in theatrical contexts—a commentary on transient show-business relationships.