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Cartoon by Gillray, a poor man goes hungry
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Cartoon by Gillray, a poor man goes hungry
Cartoon by Gillray, a poor man goes hungry - wages were low and food prices were high, thanks to foreign wars, corn duty and a bad harvest.
1790s
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Media ID 23265748
© Mary Evans Picture Library
1790s Butcher Comment Corn Cost Duty Economy Foreign Gillray Harvest Hungry Income Living Meat Money Poor Price Prices Wages Wars
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This poignant cartoon by James Gillray, titled 'A Poor Man's Dinner,' depicts the harsh realities of economic hardship in 18th century England. The image shows a destitute man, with hollow eyes and a gaunt face, peering into an empty pot on the fire. A butcher, holding a large piece of meat, looks on with contempt as the man laments, "Oh! that I had the price of a pennyworth of meat in my pocket." The cartoon serves as a scathing commentary on the economic conditions of the time, with wages being low and food prices being sky-high. The causes of this economic crisis were multifaceted. The country was embroiled in foreign wars, which diverted resources and increased the cost of imports. The Corn Laws, which protected the domestic corn market, led to higher prices for bread and other staple foods. To make matters worse, the harvest of 1795 had been a failure, leading to food shortages and further price increases. The man in the cartoon is depicted as being unable to afford even the most basic necessities, highlighting the stark divide between the haves and the have-nots in society. The butcher, representing the wealthy elite, looks on with indifference, adding to the sense of injustice and despair. Gillray's cartoon was a powerful tool for social and political commentary during a time of great economic hardship. It served as a reminder of the struggles faced by the common man and the need for reforms to address the root causes of poverty and inequality.
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