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Tolpuddle Martyrs
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Tolpuddle Martyrs
The Tolpuddle Martyrs caricature, April 1834, the Dorchester Unionists imploring mercy of their king Date: 1834
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Media ID 7402725
© Mary Evans Picture Library 2015 - https://copyrighthub.org/s0/hub1/creation/maryevans/MaryEvansPictureID/10474645
EDITORS COMMENTS
This satirical print, titled "The Tolpuddle Martyrs: Or, Dorchester Unionists Imploring Mercy of their King," dates back to April 1834 and is a poignant commentary on the plight of the Tolpuddle Martyrs, six Dorset laborers who formed a trade union and were subsequently arrested and sentenced to transportation to Australia for taking an oath of secrecy. The image, which measures 27 x 38.5 cm, is a powerful example of the satirical cartoons that proliferated during this period of social and political upheaval in England. The print depicts a group of "Dorchester Unionists," representing the anti-union Dorset gentry, kneeling before King William IV, imploring him for mercy towards the Tolpuddle Martyrs. The king, however, is shown with a stern expression, seemingly unmoved by their pleas. In the background, a crowd of working-class people, including women and children, look on in despair. The Tolpuddle Martyrs themselves are shown in the foreground, shackled and in chains, symbolizing their imprisonment and impending exile. The satirical tone of the print is evident in the exaggerated features of the Dorchester Unionists, who are depicted as groveling and effeminate, in stark contrast to the robust and determined appearance of the Tolpuddle Martyrs. The use of humor and caricature served to galvanize public opinion in favor of the laborers and to highlight the injustice of their treatment. This print is an important historical document that sheds light on the social and political climate of the time, as well as the role of satire and visual imagery in shaping public opinion. It serves as a reminder of the struggles and sacrifices made by working-class people in their fight for better wages, working conditions, and labor rights, and the ongoing relevance of these issues in the 21st century.
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