Using art to condemn the moral shortcomings of society is nothing new. English artist William Hogarth (1697 1764) was renowned for prints that revealed the moral lapses of eighteenth-century England. Despite the fact that Hogarth enjoyed the patronage of Englands wealthier citizens, he did not shrink away from producing scathing depictions of all levels of English society.
In the ten-print series Industry and Idleness, Hogarth presents two apprentices who begin working side by side only to arrive at vastly different ends. The first apprentice is portrayed as a morally incorruptible, diligent worker. He is promoted, marries his bosss daughter, and achieves great distinction and financial success. The other apprentice does little work and engages in many unsavory activities. He is fired from his apprenticeship and continues down a path of illicit behavior and corruption. The series comes to a climax when the two former coworkers are reunited with the industrious apprentice now elevated to alderman standing in judgment of the idle coworker brought before him for murder. The idle apprentice is sentenced to death and executed, whereas the industrious apprentice goes on to become Lord Mayor of London. Among Hogarths most popular series was The Rakes Progress, which tells the story of wealthy Tom Rakewell. In the first of eight prints, Tom inherits a large sum of money that he foolishly spends on enhancing his image and prestige in superficial ways. His prodigal ways lead to his rapid decline as he is arrested for debt and in return marries an old maid for her money. He begins gambling, is imprisoned, and eventually goes insane in Bedlam. Toms descent and desperate outcome, like many of Hogarths subjects, is tied directly to moral corruption and poor self- discipline. It is interesting that Hogarths prints were extremely popular in his day. Whatever the moral shortcomings of eighteenth-century England, its citizens welcomed Hogarths social critiques and harsh judgments.
1. According to the passage, Hogarths printsA. portrayed many different kinds of moral corruption.
B. focused on the weak and disenfranchised.
C. were extremely controversial.
D. often offended his wealthy patrons.
E. are extremely valuable today.
2. The passage suggests that Hogarths work is important becauseA. Hogarth developed the technique of story-telling through prints.
B. Hogarth defied authorities and convention by depicting the life of common criminals.
C. it reveals the hardships of life in eighteenth-century England.
D. it provides a critical view of the moral shortcomings of Hogarth’s society.
E. it demonstrates that art is an important medium for social change.
3. The description of Industry and Idleness suggests thatA. people in eighteenth-century England were too quick to judge each other.
B. the moral choices people make determine whether they will succeed or fail.
C. apprentices often engaged in immoral behavior in Hogarth’s time.
D. successful politicians are morally incorruptible.
E. the moral apprentice feels sorry for his former coworker.
4. Based on the passage, which of the following best expresses the main lesson of Hogarths work?A. If you are diligent and industrious, you will achieve great distinction.
B. Wealth leads to moral corruption.
C. Do not judge others until you have walked in their shoes.
D. Some people are born immoral and cannot be changed.
E. Wise choices and self-discipline can keep us from moral lapses.