Content note: A cartoon of a veiled female figure labelled Civilization on a horse above the smoking ruins of Coventry, as published in 1940. This object is shown as it was published. Why
Lady Godiva Rides Again Through Coventry's Streets
A cloaked female figure labelled CIVILIZATION sits on a horse, hiding her face, above a ruined cathedral with a surviving spire, with smoke and rubble below. The cartoon borrows the Lady Godiva legend of Coventry and attaches it to the city's bombing (transfer), and uses the scene of destruction to evoke grief and alarm (fear appeal).
Propaganda techniques used in this cartoon
- Date
- November 17, 1940
- Period
- Second World War
- Made by
- Washington Evening Star (cartoonist Jim Berryman)
- Region
- North America
- Country
- United States
- Medium
- Cartoon
- Issuer type
- Media
- Regime
- Roosevelt Administration
- Leader
- Franklin D. Roosevelt
- Audience
- Domestic public
- Purpose
- Persuade or win support
- Themes
- War and the military, Home front
- Event
- World War II
- Regime
- Roosevelt administration
- Leader
- Franklin D. Roosevelt
- Source
- Identified Openly sourced: the speaker is who they say they are
- Source
- U.S. National Archives (NARA), Records of the U.S. Senate, Jim Berryman Political Cartoons (NAID 5730852), retrieved October 3, 2026
- Rights
- Public domain (U.S. government work)
Jim Berryman, Washington Evening Star. National Archives and Records Administration, Records of the U.S. Senate, 5743122 (NAID 5743122).
Text on the object
LADY GODIVA RIDES AGAIN THROUGH COVENTRY'S STREETS [label on figure:] CIVILIZATION [signature:] JIM BERRYMAN
