The Wasp — 1879 — page 197: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This page from *The Wasp* contains satirical commentary on domestic life, specifically critiquing social pretension and marital dynamics. The illustrations depict scenes involving characters named Mrs. Josiah Martin and Dobbs, likely a servant or tradesperson. The satire targets Mrs. Martin's social climbing and affected behavior—she attempts to maintain an aristocratic appearance while relying on domestic help. The text mocks her exaggerated self-importance and the contrast between her pretensions and actual circumstances. The illustrations show domestic scenes: a man in formal dress, a woman in various poses of affected behavior, and what appears to be working-class figures. The humor derives from exposing the hypocrisy and absurdity of middle-class social pretension during this era.