The Wasp — October 18, 1879 — page 11: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# Analysis of "Phases of History" Page from The Wasp This page from *The Wasp* satirical magazine presents a serialized story titled "Phases of History" by Salmi Morse, continued from a previous issue. The narrative focuses on social satire involving characters named Dobbs, Mrs. Martin, and Josiah Martin. The illustrated vignettes depict domestic and social scenes, with text describing disputes over propriety and social standing. The satire appears to target middle-class pretension—particularly Mrs. Martin's attempts to maintain respectability while engaging in questionable artistic and social behavior. The cartoon character "Jim" (shown left) represents a working-class perspective critiquing circular saws and labor conditions. Overall, the page satirizes Victorian-era social hypocrisy, class anxiety, and the gap between public propriety and private conduct among aspiring middle-class figures.