The Wasp — 1894 — page 249: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This cartoon satirizes social climbing and courtship among the wealthy. The sequential panels show a young man attempting to court a woman of means, encountering her protective family members who variously dismiss him, rebuff him, or attempt to exclude him from their company. The humor derives from his persistent, awkward attempts to navigate social obstacles—being told to "excuse" himself, being displaced by family members who claim they'll "help" instead, and being accused of trickery ("You can't fool me!"). The title's double meaning—"fly" as both fashionable and quick—suggests the old man uses cunning to pursue his romantic interests despite class barriers. The satire critiques both the pretensions of wealthy families protecting their daughters and the scheming persistence of social climbers.