My Chosen Source

I will be exploring the representation of the Societies for the Reformation of Manners, as shown in William Hogarth's episodic engravings A Harlot's Progress (1732), produced following the society's campaign against 'disorderly houses' in 1730. The series, which follows the life of a harlot from youthful innocence to her premature death, can be viewed as a whole on the Tate Britain website here; however, I will be focusing on Plates 3 & 4 of the 6 which feature the Magistrate of Westminster Sir John Gonson, overseer of the campaign and, as a result of this, nicknamed by his contemporaries 'the harlot-hunting justice'.


Scene 3 depicts the moment at which the fictional 'Moll Hackabout' faces arrest by Gonson and three armed bailiffs who are entering on the right of the picture; her occupation is suggested by the prominence of her bed and the posture of her cat. The character's name is possibly derived from Kate Hackabout, a streetwalker arrested by Gonson in August 1730.


In scene 4, Moll beats hemp in Bridewell Prison. On the far right of the image, towards the back of the building, is a stick drawing of a hanged man with the initials 'Sir J G' above, another reference to Gonson.

I aim to explore Hogarth's representation of the Societies for the Reformation of Manners, the value of the source to historians, and how it can be said to illuminate widespread disapproval of their work. I will also attempt to demonstrate how this shows the little impact the Societies had upon long-term attitudes and social values, despite the zealousness of their work which eventually rendered them generally unpopular.