Puck — November 20, 1878 — page 3: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# Political Cartoon Analysis: "The English Sentinel and the Russian Bear" This cartoon illustrates Cold War-era anxieties about imperial powers. The image depicts a large bear (representing Russia) confronting a British sentinel, with the caption asking "But where is the Bear?" The satire criticizes British foreign policy and military preparedness regarding Russian expansion. The "English Sentinel" represents British defensive capabilities or political resolve, while the aggressive bear symbolizes Russian imperial ambitions—a common Victorian-era metaphor for Russian power. The surrounding text discusses New York police effectiveness and other civic matters, but this cartoon specifically mocks British geopolitical awareness or response to the "Russian Question"—the period's anxieties about Russian territorial and political influence in Asia and Europe.