1942.03.14 “Hornets Know No Friends”
by Ralph Lee (1906-1947)
14.7 x 23.3 in., ink on board
Coppola Collection
Ralph Lee was an editorial cartoonist for the Portland Oregonian. He died suddenly, at 41, in January 1947. His cousin, Art Bimrose, was the editorial cartoonist for the Oregonian for more than three decades. In 1937, the Oregonian hired him part-time to work on printing plates. Following Lee’s death, Bimrose was hired as the Sunday editorial cartoonist.
This is a sharp counterpoint to Lee’s “For the Duration” cartoon from February 16. The earlier cartoon showed political differences being made to disappear, while this one shows the consequences of pretending that they don’t exist.
By March 14, 1942, several things have changed in the perceived situation: Japan has advanced rapidly through Southeast Asia, the fall of Singapore (Feb. 15) has shattered British prestige in Asia, and Indian nationalism is increasingly volatile.
India as a hornet’s nest, uncontrollable once disturbed. This directly contradicts the February fantasy that political tensions could simply be “poofed” away. At the time, Allied fears were acute that Japan might incite anti-British revolt in India and weaponize nationalism against the empire.
The hornets are not shown heading toward the Japanese soldier specifically. They are simply emerging. Once activated, popular unrest has its own logic. “Hornets know no friends” is almost Machiavellian: power unleashed does not care who unleashed it.
