The Harlot's Progress (1733), The Rake's Progress (Ms., ca. 1778-1780)

"The Harlot's Progress (1733), The Rake's Progress (Ms., ca. 1778-1780)" by Theophilus Cibber is a collection of plays inspired by the visual storytelling of William Hogarth, made for the stage in the 1700s. The book contains two distinct yet related stories: a lively pantomime and a musical drama; They both explore the dangers of a world where right and wrong are blurred, and where the characters battle with tough truths and the pitfalls of temptation. "The Harlot's Progress" follows Kitty, an innocent country girl drawn into the corrupt world of London, on a sad journey to ruin. "The Rake's Progress" tells of Tom Rakewell, a young man whose unrestrained life sends him spiraling down into misery. Told with both music and humor, these plays cleverly reflect the morals of the day, using entertainment to teach a lesson about the rise and fall of people in society.