William, Jane & John: Shadow and Solace

RIVER STREET: THE SHADOW AND SOLACE OF TEMPERANCE



Representing the ideals of self-control and self-denial, the Temperance Movement epitomized middle-class Victorian values. That one should at all times be in total control of oneself was of utmost importance to the Victorians...A man who indulged himself in leisure was not considered a "true man," for a "true man" denied himself pleasure and practiced self-denial. The "long pledge"...forbade anyone under the pledge oath from serving alcohol in his or her home. For the middle class, this provided serious social problems because few socialites cared to dine in someone's home and not drink wine. Also, the "long pledge" disallowed the giving or taking of sacramental wine. In lieu of these strict rules, many middle-class people who supported temperance but still wished to drink wine with their dinners, were not supportive of the teetotal movement. However, women at marrying age during this period were encouraged by teetotallers and non-teetotallers alike to only marry men who were teetotal.
Taken from The Temperance Movement and Class Struggle in Victorian England by Rebecca Smith

I'm working on another, slightly more colourful version of this image which I may post later in the week.

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