Life — May 12, 1921 — page 10: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# "A Bit of Unwritten History" This satirical piece depicts a fictional confrontation between Roman conspirators and a wife of one of them. The cartoon's caption warns wives that "absence makes his heart grow fonder," suggesting infidelity concerns. The narrative mocks dramatic pretensions: when conspirators (appearing to be Brutus and Cassius based on the text) attempt serious justifications for their actions, Antony dismisses their theatrical posturing. He sarcastically notes one conspirator "comes from a dramatic academy" and suggests their "butchery scene" was merely performance art. The satire targets overwrought dramatic acting and self-important political speeches—suggesting real historical events are often less noble than their theatrical reenactments. The jokes emphasize how people justify questionable behavior through elaborate narratives and affected rhetoric.