criticism and the Old Bailey

Instructions:

Please write a splendid essay that engages with the following prompts.
1. What do the literary texts that we have read have to say about the law and corruption? Do they depict a world where the

law is just and fairly enforced? Does it seem like either (or both) of these books is attempting to critique or overturn the

law? Or do these books work to confirm that law in their fictional account of law-breakers. Remember, you can talk about

any kind of law here—criminal, religious, matrimonial, etc.
2. The Beggar’s Opera consistently points out the corruption in eighteenth century English society by linking the misdeeds of

lowlifes and criminals with the actions of the great and powerful. Consider Gay’s critique in light of the reality of crime

and punishment that is to be seen in the Old Baily archives (and/or Moore’s book). How does money and power affect justice

in the period?
Please be sure that you do the following:
Develop an argument for a specific thesis by:
a.   engaging with the literary criticism you have read/researched; or
b.   drawing on cases and or statistics you have researched in the Old Bailey Database; or
c.   using a combination of the two.

Please use the criticism and the Old Bailey or both, but you cannot write an essay that doesn’t bring in some sort of outside

evidence or ideas. Also, include a brief comparison with Jonathan wild. Information on Wild can be found on the Old Bailey

website.
References to be use: Gay’s critique, John Gay, The Beggar’s Opera (Penguin, 1987) ISBN: 978-0140432206, and the Old Bailey

database.
Optional:
Now, if you think you want to use evidence from the primary sources in the Old Bailey archive, I strongly urge you to do the

following:
o TEST your assumptions. One case does not a trend make. Before you make any claims about what the archive can tell

us about crime and 18c society, do much more searching. Find at least three cases to talk about, and try to develop some

statistics about the trend you are interested in.

o CHECK your opinions against the histories of 18c crime that have been written by experts. For this, see the

suggested bibliography I am listing below.

Suggested for Further Reading:
Beattie, J. M. Crime and the Courts of England: 1660-1800 (CUNY+)
Emsley, Clive. Crime and Society in England, 1750-1900. Third Edition. London: Longman, 2005.
This book is now on reserve at the JJ library!
Gaskill, M., “Reporting Murder: Fiction in the Archives of Early Modern England”, Social History 23 (1998), 1-30
Innes, Joanna and John Styles. “The Crime Wave: Recent Writings on Crime and Criminal Justice in Eighteenth-Century England.”

The Journal of British Studies 25:4 (Oct., 1986), 380-435.

MUST review Historical Background: http://www.oldbaileyonline.org/static/Crime.jsp
Additional Questions:

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