What is the message of this cartoon?

1. This cartoon of 14 July 1948 by EH Shepard for the British magazine Punch shows Stalin watching as storks fly coal and food into Berlin. 

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 of 14 July 1948 by EH Shepard for the British magazine Punch shows Stalin watching as storks fly coal and food into Berlin. 

4. Denotation Storks are flying coal and food into Berlin. Connotation A simple picture of the airlift. Meaning On 26 June 1948 the airlift (codenamed ‘Operation Vittles‘) had started flying essential supplies into West Berlin. This cartoon of 14 July 1948 by EH Shepard for the British magazine Punch shows Stalin watching as storks fly coal and food into Berlin. 

5. Denotation Stalin watches with the gun. Connotation This raises a question, rather than makes a point – will Stalin use the gun? Meaning Just 18 days into the airlift, people were still very worried that Stalin would shoot down a supply plane, thereby provoking a ‘hot war’. This cartoon of 14 July 1948 by EH Shepard for the British magazine Punch shows Stalin watching as storks fly coal and food into Berlin. 

6. Finally, always remember to look at: Origin (who drew it) Date (when it was published) This cartoon of 14 July 1948 by EH Shepard for the British magazine Punch shows Stalin watching as storks fly coal and food into Berlin. 

7. Date 14 July 1948. Details The Berlin Blockade was the FIRST clash between the superpowers which might have led to nuclear war. Significance This cartoon encapsulates the mixture of hope-for-success and fear-of-war that British people felt during the crisis. This cartoon of 14 July 1948 by EH Shepard for the British magazine Punch shows Stalin watching as storks fly coal and food into Berlin. 

8. Origin EH Shepard for the British magazine Punch. Details EH Shepard was a very clever and perceptive cartoonist. Significance Shepard brilliantly conveys the feeling of helplessness and uncertainty that people felt, aware that if a nuclear war broke out, it could lead to the end of humanity. This cartoon of 14 July 1948 by EH Shepard for the British magazine Punch shows Stalin watching as storks fly coal and food into Berlin.