Question

In a paragraph, interpret the message of this Thomas Nast political cartoon, which shows Boss Tweed laughing as he is being arrested while the Shadow of Justice looks on. Be sure to read the captions
carefully and consider what each character in the cartoon might represent. In particular, what is suggested by the words of Sheriff Brennan and the Shadow of Justice?

Answer 1

The correct answer to this open question is the following.

The interpretation of the message of this Thomas Nast political cartoon, which shows Boss Tweed laughing as he is being arrested while the Shadow of Justice looks is the following.

Boss Tweed was the classical representation of corrupt practices of interest groups in United States politics in the Mid 1800s.

Boss Tweed(1823-1878) was a United States politician leader of the political machine of the Democratic Party called "Tammany Hall" in New York City. He was also a businessman with many economic interests and political agendas that bribed legislators to favor his own interests and other businessmen's interests.

So in the cartoon, Thomas Nast depicted the power and influenced Tweed had in New York with the text: "Sheriff Brennan merely nodded to Mr. Tweed, bade him 'Goode-day,' and laying his hand tenderly on his shoulder, said laughing, 'You're my man!' Tweed believed that he could control everybody, including the court system.