Gin Lane Essay

695 Words2 Pages

Poverty is a common modern day issue. Poverty can be viewed in different ways perhaps like the lack of necessary essentials such as water, food, shelter and education in a society. Poverty has also been an issue in the past. Poverty has been a constant issue happening through out the world not just America. The painter William Hogswarth illustrated that poverty was very common in his painting “Gin Lane.” There are many signs of poverty in the painting. The city of Detroit, Michigan is a great example of poverty. Poverty is a stable issue that affects not just the poor but also the ones who are not. The painting “Gin Lane” is an example of poverty because through out the painting William Hogswarth shows the desperation, lifestyle of the poor, and the increase of crime. Like in the painting, “Gin Lane” and Detroit poverty is an issue. The desperation in Detroit is getting to the point where homeless people are starting to get fed by …show more content…

The same issue that occurred in the 18th century is occurring in the 21st century and not just in Detroit, Michigan. In the painting, William Hogswarth illustrates everybody outside in the streets, a mother giving a baby gin to drink. The left side of the painting shows a man chewing on a bone with a dog. This can relate to the lifestyle occurring in Detroit. According to the Daily Kos, “The Detroit Water and Sewerage Department, itself is in millions of dollars in debt, has begun shutting off water to 3,000 people a week”. Another example of a poor lifestyle in Detroit is the city shutting down streetlights. Another way this can relate to Detroit is the shutting down of streetlights. According to USA TODAY, almost half of the streetlights are out. A lot of people in Detroit cannot afford necessities. The same can go for the people in the painting, not being able to afford gin. Eventually, a poor lifestyle leads to a city full of

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