Life — September 7, 1916 — page 9: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# Analysis of Life Magazine Page 391 **The Cartoon:** A street scene showing well-dressed men in top hats and coats conversing with what appears to be working-class individuals. The caption reads: "How long has your boy been out of college, Mr. Pater?" "Oh, about five thousand dollars' worth." **The Satire:** This jokes about the economic burden of college education and parental financial anxiety. The play on words—measuring time by monetary cost rather than years—suggests that a college education is so expensive it feels endless in financial terms. The gentleman's wry response indicates frustration with the investment required. **Social Context:** The cartoon satirizes the American upper-middle class concern about education costs and their children's economic prospects during what appears to be the Gilded Age or early 20th century. The accompanying essay "Millennium" discusses man's conservatism regarding social change.