It's All in the Detail - A Rake's Progress (Scene 5)

The Marriage

When we last left Tom Rakewell, he narrowly escaped being arrested for debt after being bailed out by his ex-girlfriend. While he may be free, he's still broke and unwilling to work for a living. In order to restore his fortunes and pay off his debts, he is now marrying a much older but wealthier woman.

An engraving on the wall establishes the setting at St Marylebone Parish Church. The church itself is shown to be run-down and dilapidated; the plaster is coming off the walls and the collection box is covered by cobwebs. Sounds like an ideal sort of place for a clandestine wedding.

Tom's new bride seems to be focusing on the wedding ring with her one good eye. Meanwhile, Tom himself is focused more on the young maid, emphasising that there is little for him in this marriage other than financial gain. The wedding is mirrored by two dogs in the corner, with one of them missing an eye.

Sarah Young appears in the background with her infant child, while her mother is scuffling with one of the wedding guests. This is a constant reminder of the life Tom could have had if he had chosen to settle down and marry Sarah.