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In this political cartoon titled “Calvin and Hobbes” In this political cartoon titled “Calvin and Hobbes” In this political cartoon titled “Calvin and Hobbes” by Bill Watterson, a
by Bill Watterson, a boy and a tiger are walking in by Bill Watterson, a boy and a tiger are walking in boy and a tiger are walking in the woods and discussing ethics. The
the woods and discussing ethics. The tiger the woods and discussing ethics. The tiger tiger pushes the boy into the mud. Watterson uses cartooning
pushes the boy into the mud to prove a point. pushes the boy into the mud to prove a point. techniques and humorous irony to make an ethical point: that we
Watterson uses image and humor? irony? Watterson uses cartooning techniques and really should treat others the way we wish to be treated.
Juxtaposition? To show that we really should irony to prove an ethical point: that we really
treat others the way we wish to be treated. should treat others the way we wish to be treated. In the first two panels, the boy and the tiger are classic icons of
childhood, playing games, balancing on logs and hopping from one
The cartoon begins with the boy, Calvin, claiming In the first two panels, the boy and the tiger are rock to another. They behave like children, so it is a bit of an ironic
that he “doesn’t believe in ethics any more.” He classic icons of childhood, playing games, surprise when Calvin opens the dialogue in the first panel with a
makes an allusion to the famous philosopher balancing on logs and hopping from one rock to rather mature topic: he claims that he “doesn’t believe in ethics any
Niccolo Machiavelli when he says “As far as I’m another. They behave like children, so it is a bit of more.” In the second panel, Calvin’s next words are an allusion to the
concerned, the ends justify the means.” Calvin an ironic surprise when Calvin opens the infamous philosopher Niccolo Machiavelli when he says “as far as I’m
goes on to share a series of sayings: “Get what dialogue in the first panel by claiming that he concerned, the ends justify the means.” In panel three, Calvin
you can while the getting’s good!” and “might “doesn’t believe in ethics any more.” In the reinforces his opinion with a series of aggressive, selfish
makes right!” and “the winners write the history second panel, Calvin’s words are an allusion to aphorisms: “get what you can while the getting’s good!” and “might
books!” The emanata surrounding his fist shows the famous philosopher Niccolo Machiavelli when makes right!” and “the winners write the history books!” Furthermore,
that he means what he says and that he is he says “as far as I’m concerned, the ends justify in the third panel, Calvin is shown in a mid-shot, so that we can see
passionate about his selfish beliefs. His face in the means.” In panel three, Calvin goes on to his frowning, dissatisfied expression. The emanata surrounding his
the third panel is frowning, and he is shown in a share a series of aphorisms: “get what you can fist shows the force and passion behind his selfish words. He
mid-shot, so that we can see his expression. He while the getting’s good!” and “might makes continues his tirade in panel four, falling back on the cliche “it’s a dog-
continues the tirade in panel four, falling back on right!” and “the winners write the history books!” In eat-dog world,” and claiming that he will “do whatever [he has] to,”
the cliche “it’s a dog-eat-dog world,” and deciding the third panel, Calvin is shown in a mid-shot, so and let other people worry about what is right and what is wrong.
that he will let other people worry about what is that we can see his frowning expression. The
right and what is wrong. emanata surrounding his fist shows the force
behind his words, and demonstrates that he In the next moment (panel five), Hobbes the tiger gives Calvin a good
means what he says and that he is passionate hard shove from behind. The force of his push is shown through the
about his selfish beliefs. He continues the tirade emanata of Hobbes’ shoulders, lines of emanata near Calvin’s feet,
in panel four, falling back on the cliche “it’s a dog- and the little word “shove!” with an exclamation mark behind Calvin.
eat-dog world,” and deciding that he will let other This sudden transition causes Calvin to shout “HEYY!” The energy
people worry about what is right and what is behind this shout is shown by the capitalization, the exclamation point,
wrong. and the extra “y.” The word is so loud that it cannot be contained by a
speech bubble.

In the next moment (panel five), Hobbes the tiger In the next moment (panel five), Hobbes the tiger Calvin ends up in the mud, angry and shouting “WHY’D YOU DO
gives Calvin a good hard shove from behind. The gives Calvin a good hard shove from behind. The THAT?!?” in large capital letters with multiple punctuation marks.
force of his push is shown through the emanata force of his push is shown through the emanata of Hobbes throws Machiavelli’s quotation back in Calvin’s face: “You
of Hobbes’ shoulders, lines of emanata near Hobbes’ shoulders, lines of emanata near Calvin’s were in my way. Now you’re not. The ends justify the means.”
Calvin’s feet, and the little word “shove!” with an feet, and the little word “shove!” with an Hobbes’ face is drawn with a smug expression, and his words convey
exclamation mark behind Calvin. In addition, exclamation mark behind Calvin. In addition, both irony and a practical lesson for Calvin: ethics DO matter, and
Calvin is shouting “HEYY!” The energy behind Calvin is shouting “HEYY!” The energy behind Calvin’s attitude is wrong.
this shout is shown by the capitalization, the this shout is shown by the capitalization, the
exclamation point, the extra “y.” The word is so exclamation point, the extra “y.” The word is so The last pane shows Calvin trying to claim authority for himself: “I
loud that it cannot be contained by a speech loud that it cannot be contained by a speech didn’t mean for everyone, you dolt! Just me!” The italics of his words
bubble. bubble. reveal Calvin’s immaturity, lack of empathy, and perhaps a bit of
authoritarian impulse as well. Hobbes walks away, only saying
Calvin ends up in the mud, angry and shouting Calvin ends up in the mud, angry and shouting “ahh….” There is a satirical tone here, mocking Calvin’s double
“WHY’D YOU DO THAT?!?” in capital letters with “WHY’D YOU DO THAT?!?” in large capital letters standard and implicitly criticizing people’s selfish nature.
multiple punctuation marks. Hobbes throws with multiple punctuation marks. Hobbes throws
Machiavelli’s quotation back in Calvin’s face: Machiavelli’s quotation back in Calvin’s face: “You
“You were in my way. Now you’re not. The ends were in my way. Now you’re not. The ends justify Hobbes’ last sentence is left unfinished, leaving the reader to
justify the means.” Hobbes’ face is drawn with a the means.” Hobbes’ face is drawn with a smug interpret closure. The author implies that Machiavelli (and Calvin)
smug expression, and his words convey both expression, and his words convey both irony and are wrong in thinking that the ends justify the means. Calvin is a
irony and a lesson for Calvin: that ethics DO a lesson for Calvin: that ethics DO matter and that hypocrite; to borrow another aphorism, “actions have consequences,”
matter and that Calvin’s attitude is wrong. Calvin’s attitude is wrong. and in this cartoon, Watterson shows us why we should always treat
others the way we wish to be treated. He shows us that ethics AND
The last panel shows Calvin trying to claim some The last panel shows Calvin trying to claim some empathy are integral to social peace.
authority for himself: “I didn’t mean for everyone, authority for himself: “I didn’t mean for everyone,
you dolt! Just me!” The italics of his words you dolt! Just me!” The italics of his words reveal
reveal Calvin’s immaturity, and perhaps a bit of Calvin’s immaturity, and perhaps a bit of
authoritarian impulse as well. There is a satirical authoritarian impulse as well. There is a satirical
tone here, implicitly criticizing people’s selfish tone here, implicitly criticizing people’s selfish
nature and mocking Calvin’s double standard. nature and mocking Calvin’s double standard.
Hobbes walks away, only saying “ahh….” Hobbes walks away, only saying “ahh….”

This “ahh” is voiced in a satirical tone and the This “ahh” is voiced in a satirical tone and the
sentence is unfinished, leaving the reader to sentence is unfinished, leaving the reader to
consider closure. The author implies that consider closure. The author implies that
Machiavelli (and Calvin) are wrong in thinking that Machiavelli (and Calvin) are wrong in thinking that
the ends justify the means. This is true only if the ends justify the means. Ethics AND empathy
you have power over others, and empathy and are integral to social peace. Calvin is a hypocrite;
ethics are integral to social peace. Calvin is a to borrow another aphorism, “actions have
hypocrite; to borrow another saying, Calvin-style, consequences,” and in this cartoon, Watterson
“actions have consequences,” and Watterson shows us why we should treat others the way we
shows us that we should treat others the way we wish to be treated.
wish to be treated.