“The Lid Is Off Again" Political Cartoon, March 30, 1904

“The Lid Is Off Again” is a cartoon published in Puck magazine on March 30, 1904 that portrays a devil removing the lid off a box labeled "Society," allowing fumes to escape which show the liberation of women, such as being granted divorces, horseback riding, driving automobiles, gambling and smoking in social situations.

Courtesy of Library of Congress, Ehrhart, S. D., "The Lid Is Off Again," 30 March 1904

Description

“The Lid Is Off Again” is a political cartoon published in Puck Magazine on March 30, 1904. The image portrays a devil removing the lid off a box labeled "Society," allowing fumes to escape which show the dark, suggested consequences of female liberation. These negative effects, as described by the cartoon, are: being granted divorces, horseback riding, driving automobiles, gambling and smoking in social situations.

Source-Dependent Questions

Based on the images depicted coming out of the container, what does the artist mean with his title by “The Lid Is Off Again?”
List the activities deemed inappropriate for women in society according to the artist.
How might the right to vote lead to such activities? How would the liberation of women negatively impact both men and women, according to this cartoon?
Who does the man in red represent? How does this symbolism help relay the author’s attitude about suffrage?

Citation Information

Ehrhart, S. D., "The Lid Is Off Again," 30 March 1904. Courtesy of Library of Congress