Temperance.–The Man: "Here is that which is too weak to be a sinner–honest Water"–Shakespeare 1843

T. W. Huffam created this print, titled "Temperance.–The Man: 'Here is that which is too weak to be a sinner–honest Water'–Shakespeare," during a period when social reform movements were gaining momentum. The image presents a bespectacled man seated at a table with a glass of water, a stark contrast to the alcoholic beverages often associated with social gatherings. Huffam appropriates a quote from Shakespeare to position the man's choice as a moral one. The backdrop of paintings suggests a cultivated environment, emphasizing that temperance is not just for the working classes, but a virtue for the educated and refined. The print reflects the complex dynamics of Victorian society, where class, morality, and personal habits were deeply intertwined. Huffam’s work invites us to reflect on the ways in which personal choices can become politicized, and how these choices reflect broader societal values and anxieties. It compels us to consider how we define virtue and vice, and who gets to decide.