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Cartoon, The Waits; or, Out in the Cold (Liberal Party)
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Cartoon, The Waits; or, Out in the Cold (Liberal Party)
Cartoon, The Waits; or, Out in the Cold -- a satirical comment on the opposition Liberal Party, waiting patiently for a General Election so that they can return to power. Gladstone, Hartington and Bright are depicted as street musicians playing outside on a cold snowy night, just before Christmas. Date: 1879
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Media ID 23361712
© Mary Evans Picture Library
1879 Analogy Bright Colleague Colleagues Comment Gladstone Hartington Liberal Metaphor Opposition Power Ridicule Satire Satirical December
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The Waits; or, Out in the Cold: A Bitterly Chilling Commentary on the Liberal Party's Exile from Power (1879) This satirical cartoon, titled "The Waits; or, Out in the Cold," offers a biting commentary on the opposition Liberal Party, who found themselves in a state of patient yet frosty anticipation for the upcoming General Election. The image, published in 1879, depicts three prominent Liberal Party members - William Gladstone, John Bright, and the Marquess of Hartington - as street musicians playing outside on a cold, snowy night, just before Christmas. The analogy of the three Liberal MPs as street musicians is a metaphor for their political situation. The waits, in medieval England, were a group of musicians who would play outside the homes of the wealthy, hoping for alms or payment for their performances. In this context, Gladstone, Bright, and Hartington are depicted as waiting outside the halls of power, hoping for the opportunity to return to their rightful positions. The cartoon's title, "The Waits," is a reference to the traditional English custom of the Waits, who would also perform at Christmas time. The cold, wintry setting further emphasizes the bitterness of the opposition's exile from power. The year is 1879, and the Victorian era's political landscape is dominated by the Conservative Party, led by Benjamin Disraeli. The satirical nature of the cartoon is evident in the contrast between the grandeur of the political figures and their humble, makeshift musical instruments. The musicians' disheveled appearance and the meager offerings of the crowd serve to underscore the Liberal Party's perceived ineffectiveness and their longing for a chance to regain their former influence. This cartoon, with its clever use of analogy and metaphor, offers a humorous yet insightful commentary on the political climate of 1870s Britain and the opposition Liberal Party's plight as they awaited the next General Election.
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