William Hogarth’s Gin Lane served to back the Gin Act of 1751, in England. Urban cities, such as London, had become devastated with “extreme poverty and high rates of infant mortality,” primarily caused by the availability of gin, and the rising issue of alcoholism. Gin Lane emphasized the dangers of gin and liquor to the public, but also served to critique the wealthy population, for ignoring the poor. Hogarth’s illustration not only supported the Gin Act, it revealed the underlying socioeconomic issues that had arisen from the lower class, and the negligence that had allowed for the issue of alcoholism to grow.
A close first glance on William Hogarth’s Gin Lane reveals a dramatized, but horrific scene of an urban street in England. …show more content…
While the problem could be directly blamed on gin liquor, it’s important to realize that the situation had been built up for decades before the passing of the 1751 Gin Act; “Although the catalyst for “gin madness” occurred in 1689, it took until the 1720’s for the evil to spread unchecked through the London masses” (Maples). “It was [the] general lack of concern among the upper and middle classes, as to the harmful effects of alcoholism,” that eventually led the poor to discover false pleasure in drinking gin (Maples). The origins of gin in England reveal that it was dirt-cheap to produce, and easily available and affordable for the poor to consume, further encouraging substance abuse. William Hogarth’s work critiqued British Parliament’s lack of concern in resolving the issue; They instead protected “various interest groups,” such as distillers, most likely valuing a quick and easy profit over the well-being of Britain’s largest and most vulnerable social class. As Jon Filson stated, “the initial reaction, across classes, [to gin] was positive. Landowners were happy because their grain was going to good use. The government was taxing the beverage and funding its wars. The poor were drunk.” This statement only further supports the fact that middle and upper classes turned a blind eye to the lower class, only concerned about their own issues, and allowing the gin situation to grow out of
A close first glance on William Hogarth’s Gin Lane reveals a dramatized, but horrific scene of an urban street in England. …show more content…
While the problem could be directly blamed on gin liquor, it’s important to realize that the situation had been built up for decades before the passing of the 1751 Gin Act; “Although the catalyst for “gin madness” occurred in 1689, it took until the 1720’s for the evil to spread unchecked through the London masses” (Maples). “It was [the] general lack of concern among the upper and middle classes, as to the harmful effects of alcoholism,” that eventually led the poor to discover false pleasure in drinking gin (Maples). The origins of gin in England reveal that it was dirt-cheap to produce, and easily available and affordable for the poor to consume, further encouraging substance abuse. William Hogarth’s work critiqued British Parliament’s lack of concern in resolving the issue; They instead protected “various interest groups,” such as distillers, most likely valuing a quick and easy profit over the well-being of Britain’s largest and most vulnerable social class. As Jon Filson stated, “the initial reaction, across classes, [to gin] was positive. Landowners were happy because their grain was going to good use. The government was taxing the beverage and funding its wars. The poor were drunk.” This statement only further supports the fact that middle and upper classes turned a blind eye to the lower class, only concerned about their own issues, and allowing the gin situation to grow out of