Is Dr. Seuss Portrayal Of Hitler's Character In A Political Cartoon

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Dr. Seuss used his creativeness in the form of political propaganda to inspire Americans to fight against the Axis Powers in World War II. This propaganda was in the form of political American people in these cartoons that show his perspective of Hitler’s character, his leadership, and the extent of his threat to the United States. Dr. Seuss portrayed Hitler’s character in the political cartoon, “The latest Self-Portrait” (86). He “depicts Hitler as simultaneously sculptor, subject, mermaid and putti crowning Hitler with knight’s helmet” (74). The multiple Hitlers in the cartoon takes “a jab at Hitler’s unlimited ego” (74). In this cartoon, it seems as if Dr. Seuss is telling the American people that Hitler thinks too highly of himself and shows his distrust in other people. It comes across that Hitler is the kind of person who believes that they have to do everything in order for it to be right. “Dr. …show more content…

Seuss used his political cartoons to critique Hitler’s leadership, not only towards his own people but towards other nations. His leadership is shown through his attitude towards his people and the leaders and people of the nations that interacted with Germany in World War II. Looking at Hitler’s character in the political cartoons, Dr. Seuss portrayed Hitler’s attitude towards his own people in a negative manner. A political cartoon that is a representation of how Dr. Seuss portrayed Hitler towards his people is “Second Creation” (90). In April 3, 1942, Dr. Seuss “shows Hitler melting Germans down to recast them in the Nazi mold” (75). This image depicts Hitler’s relationship as “epitomizing as they do the essential relation between totalitarian dictator and subject and, indeed, the creation of a new race of slaves” (75). This does not portray Hitler in the best manner and shows what was believed to be the nature of the Nazi regime. It depicts Hitler as brain washing his people to do his bidding and carry on the political views he has enforced upon

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