Beer Street and Gin Lane, by William Hogarth

In the eighteenth century etchings entitled “Beer street and Gin lane",are two prints of English satirist William Hogarth where he supported the drinking beer in comparison to the consumption of gin.These prints were designed side by side so that the viewers see drinking beer as less intoxicating than the evil side effects of gin drinking.At the same time this "Gin lane" a companion of the other printing increased public awareness for drinking, and its deadly consequences led a campaign against the British government economic plan.

Before we move forward some clarifications needed to be made In order to understand the comparativeness of the multiple meaning of Gin lane's degrading activities. we need to know what gin is and how did it entered in england's land. Gin is a cheap and hard spirit that is distilled from grains and berries of juniper is added to its flavor. It was first distilled in Holland in the early seventeenth century, where it is produced as medicine for the stomach discomforts. Gin has a horrible side-effects. it is a memory-diminisher that made people stupid very quickly. The lower class of London was a regular drinker not as a social drinker though, they just wanted to get drunk fast to escape the pain of the difficult lives. it was introduced to England after the arrival of William and Mary from the Netherlands in 1688.This gin business was a part of economic plan of the government, so that they could create the demand for surplus grain.

The first engraving i have chosen to examine is called "Beer street". On Beer street everyone seems happy, healthy,and hard-working . Seem to be Refreshing themselves with drink beer while they are at leisure. Basket full of fresh fishes and the their the ...

... middle of paper ...

...e is all things are in moderation, even the good use of legal products in moderation is absolutely needed. Hogarth's drawing "Gin lane", made an immediate impact on the general people. During the same year, it was published, sold cheaply to be able to reach as many as hands, the "Gin Act". was passed by the parliament that regulated the sold of the alcohol.

Conclusion: during the age of reason, the famous satirist William Hogarth identified and exposed the problems of the society. He brought these engravings into life and gave them a voice to speak up in a very powerful way. The intention was to bring the change, specially where the changes are needed most, in the lower class of Britain. He was not promoting for Beer consumptions, rather pointing out the danger of peoples' switching from beer, considered healthy, to gin as a drink for drunkards.