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Cartoon, Don t You Smell Fire? (Mr and Mrs Bull)
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Cartoon, Don t You Smell Fire? (Mr and Mrs Bull)
Cartoon, Don t You Smell Fire? Mrs Britannia Bull tells her husband John that he should investigate a nasty smell of something smouldering -- smoke can be seen on the right, representing the Fenian (Irish nationalist) threat. Date: 1866
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1866 Bull Candle Danger Dressing Fenian Gown Nationalism Nightdress Nightgown Smell Stairs Threat Trouble Worry Worrying 1860s
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Don't You Smell Fire, John?
EDITORS COMMENTS
: A Victorian-era Political Cartoon of Anxiety and the Fenian Threat (Mary Evans Prints Online, 1866) This evocative political cartoon, titled "Don't You Smell Fire, John?" was published in 1866 and depicts a concerned Mrs. Britannia Bull warning her husband, John, of a potential danger lurking in their home. The image, created during the tumultuous 1860s, reflects the heightened anxiety and fear of the Irish Fenian threat that permeated British society at the time. The scene is set in the Bulls' domestic space, with John, dressed in a dressing gown, descending the stairs in response to his wife's urgent call. Mrs. Bull, holding a candle and looking worried, stands at the top of the stairs, her expression conveying a sense of impending danger. Smoke can be seen billowing from the right side of the image, representing the Fenian threat that was perceived to be smoldering and threatening to engulf the British Isles. The Fenian Brotherhood was an Irish nationalist organization that sought to overthrow British rule in Ireland through violent means. The group, which was active during the mid-19th century, carried out a series of bombings and attacks against British targets, causing widespread panic and fear among the British population. This cartoon serves as a powerful reminder of the political tensions and anxieties that characterized the Victorian era. The image of a concerned wife warning her husband of an imminent threat resonated with the British public, who were deeply worried about the safety of their homes and families in the face of the Fenian threat. The use of symbolism, such as the smoke representing the danger, and the domestic setting, emphasized the personal nature of the threat and the need for vigilance and action. Overall, "Don't You Smell Fire, John?" is a compelling snapshot of the political and social climate of the time, and a poignant reminder of the anxieties and fears that shaped Victorian society.
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