Marlette, Doug. "I'm very disappointed in you!" April 24, 1975. Photograph. Library of Congress, https://loc.gov/pictures/resource/ppmsca.19779/.
The cartoon provides a visual entry point into discussions about the Vietnam War, US foreign policy, and the impact of the war on both the American and Vietnamese societies. The cartoon helps students understand the complexities and consequences of historical events, particularly when considering multiple perspectives, including those of different stakeholders in the Vietnam War. It encourages students to consider various viewpoints and understand the complexity of historical narratives, whereas certain histories, like that told about the Vietnam War, have often favored dominant American perspectives. Finally, political cartoons offer accessible texts for all students and provide new avenues of visual analysis and text complexity.
Doug Marlette's cartoon depicts South Vietnamese President Thiệu shaking his fist at rows of crosses topped with U.S. helmets, expressing disappointment. This cartoon addresses the US withdrawal from Vietnam and the subsequent fall of South Vietnam, highlighting Thiệu's frustration with the lack of continued American support.
- The Vietnam War was a prolonged conflict that took place from 1954 to 1975, primarily between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and South Vietnam, backed by the United States and other anti-communist nations.
- After more than eight years of involvement in the Vietnamese War, the United States negotiated a ceasefire with North Vietnam in 1973 and removed US troops. In early 1975, the North Vietnamese mounted a massive offensive against the South Vietnamese. When the United States refused to supply new military aid, South Vietnamese president Thiệu resigned, blaming the U.S. for not living up to its responsibilities. With the fall of Saigon, South Vietnam surrendered to North Vietnam on April 30, 1975.
- How might different audiences (e.g., Americans, South Vietnamese, veterans) react to this cartoon?
- How does the cartoon reflect public opinion about the US withdrawal from Vietnam?
- What emotions does the cartoon evoke, and how does it achieve this effect?
Common Core State Standards
RI.11-12.5 Analyze and evaluate the effectiveness of the structure an author uses in his or her exposition or argument, including whether the structure makes points clear, convincing, and engaging.
- The lesson requires students to determine cartoonist Doug Marlette's point of view and purpose in creating the cartoon. They analyze how his perspective on the Vietnam War and US withdrawal is conveyed through the cartoon's imagery and text.
RI.11-12.6 Determine an author's point of view or purpose in a text in which the rhetoric is particularly effective, analyzing how style and content contribute to the power, persuasiveness, or beauty of the text.
- Students explore how Marlette's style and content contribute to the cartoon's power and persuasiveness. They examine the rhetorical strategies used—such as satire, symbolism, and emotional appeal—to understand how these elements enhance the cartoon's effectiveness and beauty.
- Introduce Doug Marlette and his work as a political cartoonist, including his legacy spanning the late twentieth and early twenty-first centuries. Also, highlight the importance of analyzing political cartoons as a way to understand historical events and public sentiment.
- Next, guide students through an initial observation of the cartoon, asking them to note their first impressions and any details they recognize as particularly important, confusing, or impactful.
- Divide the class into small groups and assign each group a specific aspect of the cartoon to analyze (e.g., symbolism, historical context, emotional impact).
- Finally, have the groups present their findings via a poster, summary, mini-lesson, or other method. The group presentations can be used as an assessment.
Understanding history from multiple viewpoints is important. While it can be challenging to hear critiques of American foreign policy, looking at different perspectives provides a fuller picture of past events. This approach goes beyond just celebrating achievements and includes learning from mistakes, which can lead to a more balanced and comprehensive understanding of history.
- Another political cartoon responds to the US’s choice to leave Vietnam with the title “Maybe we should have stayed there.”
- In another political cartoon that makes exceptional use of metaphor, the artist Herblock (Herbert Block) used the visual metaphor of an American soldier tripping backward down a staircase to symbolize faltering prestige.
- ReadWriteThink.org published an analysis worksheet that pushes students to consider the historical context of a political cartoon and the artist’s rhetorical choices.