I thought that "A Rakes Progress" was a very interesting octuple of paintings, it tells the in depth story of a man (Tom Rakewell) who gains a fortune after his father passes away. In the first painting i thought it was both cruel and unfortunate that you see his servants stealing his gold when he his preoccupied with other things.
Tom Rakewell squanders his money on parties and prostitutes, in which you again see people stealing his money or other valuables whilst he is intoxicated with alocohol.
After he has spent his entire fortune, Tom decides to marry an old hag for her riches, because he is so used to the life of luxury and will not give it up and become a peasant.
The story ends, leavng the reader questioning what it all means. From what i can gather, Nick Shadow was either Toms darker self, or the devil himself. I got the feeling of the devil after i realised that he appeared everytime Tom wanted/wished for something, and at the end of the story he says that tom must repay him for what he has given to him.
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