Format
Each print shows a representative or important scene at some point in the life of one of the protagonists (In two plates, both are shown together). Together, the seven appearances of Francis Goodchild and Thomas Idle show their steady paths up the social and political ladder to the pinnacle of power and esteem and down the path of immorality and crime to complete disgrace and legal infamy, respectively. Each appearance is also accompanied by some explainitary or foreshadowing text from the Bible.
This latter was supposedly picked out by a friend of Hogarth's, Rev. Arnold King.
Read more about this topic: Industry And Idleness