Senator Tweed in a New Role.

In this political cartoon, Thomas Nast depicts Boss Tweed as the queen in Hamlet, theatrically pleading for a new city charter from the state legislature. The satirical image mocks Tweed’s attempt to secure greater autonomy and power for New York City through a revised charter—an effort widely viewed as a self-serving grab for political control. By casting Tweed in a woman’s role on stage, Nast highlights both the absurdity and the dramatic hypocrisy of the senator’s appeal, echoing Shakespeare’s theme of appearance versus reality.

The cartoon reflects Nast’s broader campaign against the corruption of Tammany Hall and its leader, William M. “Boss” Tweed, and underscores the illustrator’s genius in blending classical references with sharp political commentary.