I know that I brought in examples of propaganda posters for our critical lens session on “Pale Horse, Pale Rider” but I am still fascinated by them I guess. Since so many of the posters were targeted towards women, I thought it would be fun to put a few examples of posters up against quotes from the book.
On Liberty Bonds:
“Miranda began to explain that she had no money, and did not know where to find any, when the older man interrupted: “That’s no excuse, no excuse at all, and you know it, with the Huns over-running martyred Belgium.”
“Miranda tried not to listen, but se heard. These vile Huns—glorious Belleau Wood—our keyword is Sacrificed—Martyred Belgium—give till it hurts
—our noble boys Over There—Big Berthas—the death of civilization—the Boche.”
On “Good Works”:
“…she went out to join a group of young women fresh from the country club dances, the morning bridge, the charity bazaar, the Red Cross workrooms, who were wallowing in good works. They gave tea dances and raised money, and with the money they bout quantities of sweets, fruits, cigarettes, and magazines for the men in cantonment hospitals.”
“I do worse,” she said soberly; “I write pieces advising other young women to knit and roll bandages and do without sugar and help win the war.”
With so many similar posters out there advising women as to how they can help “win the war” it doesn’t surprise me that Miranda seems to resent it. So many of these posters are so demanding and are purposely made to be frightening. It would be upsetting to be badgered constantly about buying bonds and saving sugar, let alone have your patriotism and femininity attacked if you did not do so. Or, how would you like this on your front door?
