Taking the Punch: Joyce and Wilde vs Tenniel and M. Shelley, Shakespeare Presiding; or The Use of Populism in the Arts for Political Gain in 19th-20th Century Britain

Abstract

In the late 19^th and early 20^th century, Britain was in the midst of attempting to heal a wound destined for amputation: the independence of Ireland from its English colonizers. To this end, both sides used the words of some of literature's most brilliant minds to persuade the general public of the righteousness of their stance. This use of artistic populism – both in literature and illustration – touched on the pathos of the people. One of the many battles of wits was subtly fought between John Tenniel, the acclaimed English illustrator for the satirical magazine Punch, and James Joyce, the acclaimed Irish author. Fascinatingly, in the skirmishes explored in this paper, English artist Tenniel employed the beloved words of English author Mary Shelley, while Irish author Joyce utilized the famed lines of Irish writer Oscar Wilde; and casting his long shadow over both Tenniel and Joyce was the immortal influence of William Shakespeare. This was a battle for the soul of the British empire with literature used as the subtle weapon in a war of populism.