The Tempter (Punch, November 27, 1886) 1886

Drawn by Sir John Tenniel in 1886, this print depicts a spectral figure and a worried man at a cliff edge. The ethereal figure represents the ‘Spirit of Anarchy,’ wearing a bonnet inscribed with the word ‘anarchy,’ and she offers the man, a laborer, a tool, tempting him with work. The Tempter is reminiscent of the allegorical figure of Death, a motif extending back to medieval art where Death is a skeletal figure who leads people toward their fate. Here, ‘anarchy’ replaces ‘death,’ reflecting anxieties of the late 19th century, when social and political unrest threatened the established order. The cliff edge symbolizes the precarious state of society, with the Tempter preying on vulnerable workers, appealing to their subconscious desires and fears. Consider how this cyclical narrative of temptation resurfaces throughout history, evolving with each era's anxieties.