... and privilege while the less fortunate were afforded little opportunity to better themselves or their social standings. They were subject to the whims and opinions of a relatively small group of mostly white, protestant males. Any opinions or movement differing from what this elite group considered worthy and acceptable was quickly quashed. Oppression reigned within the lower classes and with it dissatisfaction and unease grew and flourished. Public hangings, such as the one depicted in "A London Fete" allowed these people some release. The 'celebrations' often mirrored the feelings of the lower classes. The helplessness of the doomed man reflected the helplessness that the lower class people felt, locked within their social standing. The desperate way in which they celebrated was representative of the desperation they felt to improve their quality of life. Since it was generally socially unacceptable to express these feelings, the anonymity of the hanging provided an ...

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