Theodore Roosevelt and cartoon analysis

cartoon analysis techniques

cartoon analysis essay

First cartoon analysis

/President Theodore Roosevelt faces issues such as the railroad and beef trusts/

This cartoon depicts Theodore Roosevelt in his river trip expedition, the Mississippi river. In the cartoon we can see tree snags which are partially submerged of which he has to navigate through them and this depicts a dangerous state. Roosevelt is depicted as the captain

here and has the responsibility to steer the boat through the waters. Among the tree snags include the beef trust, Toledo trust, standard oil, rail road trust and Harriman interests. The cartoon ironically portrays a hard situation contrary to his promise to make rivers arteries of trade. The cartoonist uses tree snags to depict the situation of forests where it signifies wasted and destructed natural resources. The tree snags which are named with trusts show how the corporate world is proving difficult to streamline with his crusade to streamline bad trusts.

Second cartoon analysis

/President Theodore Roosevelt questions whether or not to run for a third term in office/

Analyzing the cartoon we can see two bees on one side and one bee on the other side. The bees are named 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd.

The cartoon of Theodore Roosevelt is present and he is portrayed dressed as hamlet with a sword and a coat behind him. He casts the shadow of a bee on the wall. This caricature depicts of his situation since the first and second bees depict his already spent two terms, however he looks at the third bee which represents the third term and wonders. Every term is portrayed by bees showing danger posed by the war to win elections and war in the Europe, Roosevelt is equipped with a sword to tackle this. At his foot is a teddy bear with a broom signifying the public opinion to support and usher Roosevelt run his third term.