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RAKES PROGRESS 5
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RAKES PROGRESS 5
5. Marries an old maid Date: 1735
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Media ID 20142085
© Bubblepunk
1735 Cobweb Hogarth Maid Marries Poor Progress Quarrelling Rake Rakes Spider Vicar
EDITORS COMMENTS
Rakes Progress 5: Marries an Old Maid, a masterpiece by the renowned English artist William Hogarth, painted in 1735, offers a poignant and satirical commentary on the societal norms and expectations of the time. In this installment of Hogarth's famous series, Rakes Progress, the protagonist Tom Rakewell, having squandered his inheritance on a life of debauchery and excess, is now at the mercy of the cruel and manipulative Myrtle, an old maid who has ensnared him with her false promises of love and security. The scene is set in a dimly lit, cluttered room, where the couple's quarrel is in full swing. Myrtle, dressed in the drab attire of an old maid, sits on a chair, her face contorted in anger as she hurls insults at Tom, who stands before her, a defeated and remorseful expression on his face. A cobweb and spider can be seen in the corner, symbolizing the entrapment and decay that await those who stray from the path of virtue. The vicar, a bystander to the scene, looks on disapprovingly, his expression one of disappointment and sadness. Tom's loyal dog, a constant companion throughout his misadventures, lies at his feet, a reminder of the loyalty and love that Tom has lost in his pursuit of pleasure. In the foreground, a poor beggar woman reaches out to Tom, offering him a box and a cob, a symbol of the false hope and fleeting pleasures that he has sought throughout his life. The contrast between the poverty and squalor of the old maid's home and the opulence and grandeur that Tom has left behind serves as a stark reminder of the consequences of a life lived in excess and disregard for societal norms. Hogarth's Rakes Progress 5: Marries an Old Maid is a powerful and thought-provoking work of art that continues to resonate with audiences today, offering a glimpse into the complexities of human nature and the consequences of our choices.
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