William Hogarth

What is even more sorrowful and gut-wrenching though , is that the women finds love for herself . She is neglected by her husband , and resorts to adultery , as well . She falls for the lawyer , and he fulfills her where the husband cannot and will not . However , the depth of their love causes him to kill her evil husband . The lawyer must depart , then , because he has murdered the husband . This act of violence forever severs the poor wife 's only source of happiness . But , even more devastating for the wife , is the fact that

she learns her lover has been hanged for the murder . She responds to the news by committing suicide with poison in the final painting

And , to cap off the final , brilliant painting , Hogarth depicts the girl 's father leaning over her dead corpse , removing her priceless ring No image better exemplifies the father . He was a man who cared nothing for his daughter 's happiness or safety . He wanted only to use her to advance his position in life . And , that is what Hogarth is criticizing He is condemning the parents who use their young children to forward their family name , family wealth , and family power . He finds this to be despicable and uses his brush to make an unmistakable statement about it

Unfortunately , these types of marriages have not been completely eliminated . Yes , today , no one is forced into marriages , as they were in the 1700s , but countless wealthy and famous figures are goaded into politically savvy marriages by their parents . To think Donald Trump would allow any of his kids to marry a member of the proletariat is laughable , or to believe any member of the Bush family would wed someone who possessed no power , no prestige , no Ivy League education , and no money is...