Teddy and the Bears
1. What does each "character" in the cartoon represent?
The hunter represents Teddy Roosevelt. One Bear represents bad
trusts, one bear represents good trusts. The house in the background represents the white
house. The Restraint belt symbolizes the laws and actions taken by Roosevelt to control
trusts.
2. Why is TR dressed that way?
Teddy is dressed up as a hunter to show that he is hunting
against the injustices that have been left by previous presidents. Being a hunter, Teddy is symbolic of a hero who is trying to "hunt down" corrupt trusts.
3. What is the purpose of the bears being labeled different
things?
The bears are labeled differently to show that people believe that not all trusts are necessarily bad to the people. Trusts that are controlled and are beneficial
to the people are good. The trusts that need to be killed have been unfairly "killed" by
Roosevelt.
4. What is the overall message of this cartoon?
The overall message of this cartoon is that Roosevelt has made it his goal to hunt down and attack all trusts. It does not depict Roosevelt necessarily in a positive manner. It shows that he is inconsiderate of the business leaders of america. It supports the idea of Laissez Faire, that the government should leave the businesses alone instead of "messing with nature" and attacking them.
5. BONUS What is up with the bears in the back?
The bear in the back is holding a barrel of dead bears that Roosevelt has killed off. This bear is benefiting the death of the other bears since he now has no competition and has a bunch of dead bears. The bear in the back symbolizes the small business
that are benefiting from the downfall of bigger businesses with trusts. Teddy does not notice
the small bear in the back because it is only a "teddy bear" and does not look intimidating to Theodore
Roosevelt.