What is the message of this cartoon?

1. This cartoon - ‘A peep under the Iron Curtain' - by the British cartoonist Illingworth was published in the Daily Mail on 6 March 1946. ‘Joe’ is Joseph Stalin.

2. What is the message of this cartoon?

3. To do this question, you need first to borrow two concepts from English: Denotation (what you see) Connotation (how it affects its audience) This cartoon - ‘A peep under the Iron Curtain' - by the British cartoonist Illingworth was published in the Daily Mail on 6 March 1946. ‘Joe’ is Joseph Stalin.

4. Denotation An Iron Curtain. Connotation Iron is hard and the material of war. A curtain is both a divider, and a screen to hide what you are doing. Meaning Stalin has created an ‘iron curtain’ – an impenetrable barrier – and we didn’t fully realise until yesterday what was going on behind it. This cartoon - ‘A peep under the Iron Curtain' - by the British cartoonist Illingworth was published in the Daily Mail on 6 March 1946. ‘Joe’ is Joseph Stalin.

5. Denotation Churchill is having ‘a peep under the iron curtain’. Connotation To ‘peep’ is brave (though criticised by some) – and gives us a glimpse of the truth. Meaning Although the cartoon shows CHURCHILL peeping under the curtain, it is US, the readers, who have been shown what is going on. This cartoon - ‘A peep under the Iron Curtain' - by the British cartoonist Illingworth was published in the Daily Mail on 6 March 1946. ‘Joe’ is Joseph Stalin.

6. Denotation A nightmare world of planes, factories and smoke, dominated by the Soviet flag. Connotation Factories = economic strength. Planes = military strength. Black = evil and dangerous. Meaning Behind the Iron Curtain, the Soviet Union is developing strong forces which we need to fear. This cartoon - ‘A peep under the Iron Curtain' - by the British cartoonist Illingworth was published in the Daily Mail on 6 March 1946. ‘Joe’ is Joseph Stalin.

7. Denotation Stalin hangs over the curtain – he appears to have a gun. Connotation Gun = the Red Army. Meaning Stalin is a tyrant, who has erected the curtain to cut off eastern Europe from freedom, and keeps control there by force. This cartoon - ‘A peep under the Iron Curtain' - by the British cartoonist Illingworth was published in the Daily Mail on 6 March 1946. ‘Joe’ is Joseph Stalin.

8. Denotation A blocked railway. Connotation = blocked progress, hindering economic activity. Meaning Western leaders often complained that Soviet policy was hindering economic recovery. This cartoon - ‘A peep under the Iron Curtain' - by the British cartoonist Illingworth was published in the Daily Mail on 6 March 1946. ‘Joe’ is Joseph Stalin.

9. Denotation A ruined house. Connotation By contrast to eastern Europe, western Europe is shown as in ruins after the War. Meaning Western Europe is weak – perhaps not strong enough to resist Stalin. This cartoon - ‘A peep under the Iron Curtain' - by the British cartoonist Illingworth was published in the Daily Mail on 6 March 1946. ‘Joe’ is Joseph Stalin.

10. Denotation A man close to Stalin is running away in terror. Connotation Soviet communism is terrifyingly dangerous, and we need to be very scared of it. Meaning The inculcation of fear of the Soviets was a major part of western propaganda to mobilise public opinion against the Soviet Union. This cartoon - ‘A peep under the Iron Curtain' - by the British cartoonist Illingworth was published in the Daily Mail on 6 March 1946. ‘Joe’ is Joseph Stalin.

11. Finally, always remember to look at: Origin (who drew it) Date (when it was published) This cartoon - ‘A peep under the Iron Curtain' - by the British cartoonist Illingworth was published in the Daily Mail on 6 March 1946. ‘Joe’ is Joseph Stalin.

12. Date 6 March 1946. Details The day after the Fulton speech. Significance Illingworth is praising Churchill for making us aware of what is going on behind the Iron Curtain, and of the danger the world is in. This cartoon - ‘A peep under the Iron Curtain' - by the British cartoonist Illingworth was published in the Daily Mail on 6 March 1946. ‘Joe’ is Joseph Stalin.

13. Origin The British cartoonist Illingworth in the Daily Mail. Details The Daily Mail was a right-wing newspaper very opposed to the Soviet Union and communism. Significance This is an anti-Soviet propaganda cartoon, supporting Churchill’s call for a stand against the Soviet Union, by playing to people’s fears. This cartoon - ‘A peep under the Iron Curtain' - by the British cartoonist Illingworth was published in the Daily Mail on 6 March 1946. ‘Joe’ is Joseph Stalin.