Jack Sprat Could Eat No Fat

Dinner for Two - Or Three?

Strong lines dominate this black and white image, and the touches of purple add emphasis and seem to frame Mrs. Sprat in the picture. She takes center stage, literally, and is obviously the larger of the two characters. She also faces out, directly toward the viewer while her husband is seen from the back and the side. His facial features are sharp and angular, and hers are soft and round. Notice the cat at the front of the illustration. Is it wise of the cat to be looking to Mrs. Sprat for a handout? Does the animal’s position suggest that Jack is parsimonious and his wife more generous? How many of the illustrations for this rhyme support the stereotype that fat people tend to be jolly?