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Cartoon, Charles Bradlaugh, atheist MP
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Cartoon, Charles Bradlaugh, atheist MP
Cartoon, Charles Bradlaugh (1833-1891), atheist politician, Liberal MP for Northampton. The lawyers (described here as The Three Wise Men of Madagascar) puzzle over how to deal with him.
1884
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Media ID 14400929
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1884 Atheism Atheist Bradlaugh Bryan Cope Deal Entracte Lawyer Lawyers Legal Liberal Madagascar Northampton Parliament Puzzle Satire Satirical Wise
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This intriguing cartoon, titled "The Three Wise Men of Madagascar: A Consultation on Bradlaugh," depicts a pensive gathering of three distinguished-looking gentlemen, identified as the "Three Wise Men of Madagascar," deep in discussion over a seemingly perplexing issue. The focus of their deliberation is none other than the charismatic and controversial figure of Charles Bradlaugh, an atheist politician who made waves in Victorian England as the Liberal MP for Northampton. The year is 1884, and Bradlaugh, known for his outspoken advocacy of secularism and atheism, had recently succeeded in passing the Bradlaugh-Bright Act, which allowed him to take his oath of office without the customary religious qualification. This groundbreaking achievement infuriated many in the religious establishment, who were determined to challenge Bradlaugh's eligibility to sit in Parliament. In this cartoon, the Three Wise Men, dressed in traditional robes and turban-like headgear, are shown poring over legal texts and consultations, their furrowed brows and serious expressions suggesting the gravity of the situation. The caption above the image reads, "June 21, 1884," indicating that the cartoon was published during the height of the controversy surrounding Bradlaugh's parliamentary tenure. The satirical nature of the cartoon is evident in the absurdity of the setting – the Three Wise Men of Madagascar – as well as the caricatured depiction of Bradlaugh as a smug, self-satisfied figure, seated confidently at a table laden with legal texts, a monkey at his side. The cartoon serves as a testament to the polarizing figure Bradlaugh was in Victorian society, as well as the ongoing debates surrounding the role of religion in politics and the secular state.
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