Life — May 2, 1918 — page 11: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# Analysis This is a single satirical illustration titled "In Ye Goode Olde Days: Entertaining Ye Mother-In-Law," showing a chaotic medieval or Tudor-era household scene. The joke appears to be a domestic comedy about in-laws. The image depicts a noblewoman (the mother-in-law, appearing to be the central seated figure) being entertained in what looks like a great hall, with various servants, entertainers, and family members attending to her. The elaborate setup—with musicians, performers, and numerous attendants—suggests the household is going to great, somewhat absurd lengths to entertain and manage this difficult guest. The humor relies on the timeless, universal complaint about difficult mothers-in-law, suggesting that even in "ye goode olde days," this family relationship was challenging and required elaborate effort to manage. The period setting adds comic distance to what remains a recognizable domestic frustration.