The words on the mice read: ‘Berliners' and ‘Western Powers’.

1. The words on the mice read: ‘Berliners' and ‘Western Powers’. This cartoon by the British cartoonist Illingworth appeared in the Daily Mail on 9 September 1948.   

2. What is the message of this cartoon?

3. The words on the mice read: ‘Berliners' and ‘Western Powers’. 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 by the British cartoonist Illingworth appeared in the Daily Mail on 9 September 1948.   

4. Denotation The words on the mice read: ‘Berliners' and ‘Western Powers’. Stalin has blocked up the mouse-hole. Connotation A simple parallel with the Berlin Blockade. Meaning On 24 June 1948 the Russians had stopped all road and rail traffic into West Berlin. This cartoon by the British cartoonist Illingworth appeared in the Daily Mail on 9 September 1948.   

5. Denotation The words on the mice read: ‘Berliners' and ‘Western Powers’. Stalin is represented as a cat, ‘playing’ with the mouse labelled: ‘Berliners’. Connotation A cat will often ‘play’ with a captured mouse … before killing it. Meaning Stalin has not invaded West Berlin, but is just ‘toying’ with them by mounting the Blockade, before he moves in and ‘devours them’ (i.e. takes over). This cartoon by the British cartoonist Illingworth appeared in the Daily Mail on 9 September 1948.   

6. Denotation The words on the mice read: ‘Berliners' and ‘Western Powers’. The mice labelled ‘Western powers’ scurry around in alarm. Connotation They fear they will be the next to be cornered and devoured. Meaning When he has acquired Berlin, Stalin will move on to devour other western powers (i.e. this is an early version of the Domino Theory). This cartoon by the British cartoonist Illingworth appeared in the Daily Mail on 9 September 1948.   

7. The words on the mice read: ‘Berliners' and ‘Western Powers’. Finally, always remember to look at: Origin (who drew it) Date (when it was published) This cartoon by the British cartoonist Illingworth appeared in the Daily Mail on 9 September 1948.   

8. Origin The words on the mice read: ‘Berliners' and ‘Western Powers’. Illingworth. Details Illingworth worked for the right-wing, anti-Soviet Daily Mail. Significance This represents a ‘straight-down-the-line’ western propaganda view – that Stalin is blockading Berlin as an attempt to conquer it, and will move on to other countries after that. This cartoon by the British cartoonist Illingworth appeared in the Daily Mail on 9 September 1948.   

9. Date The words on the mice read: ‘Berliners' and ‘Western Powers’. 9 September 1948. Details Three months into the Blockade, when it was still doubtful whether the airlift would succeed. Significance This is designed to emphasise how evil Stalin is, and the danger he represents – in order to motivate the British public to support the airlift and thwart the Blockade. This cartoon by the British cartoonist Illingworth appeared in the Daily Mail on 9 September 1948.