Warning: SPOILERS for The Gilded Age Season 3, Episode 1
HBO’sThe Gilded Ageseason 3 opened with Ada Forte joining a new cause: the temperance movement.The Gilded Ageis all about power, wealth, and living sumptuous lifestyles.The Gilded Age’s season 3 premiere did not disappoint, as there were more lavish costumes, petty squabbles, and relationship dramas. Season 3’s opener also quickly answers some of the biggest questions fromThe Gilded Age’s season 2 ending.
WhileThe Gilded Ageseason 3 necessarily has some changesfrom the previous outing, the new season is already shaping up to be incredibly entertaining. Julian Fellowes' historical drama has always been an easy, enjoyable watch, andThe Gilded Ageseems to have upped the stakes for season 3.From the various big relationship reveals to Ada and Agnes' new feud, I am excited to see what comes next. Amid the talk of engagements and divorce, though, Ada’s newfound membership in a temperance society is somewhat more muted, so it can take a minute to recognize its full significance.
The Movement Only Got More Powerful Over Time
The Gilded Agehas often included real moments in New York and America’s history, and the temperance movement was a cause that had a big effect on the United States. In 1884, whenThe Gilded Ageseason 3 takes place, the temperance movement had already been around for a century. In its earliest forms,temperance movements and societies hoped to ban the production of alcohol, often with religious reasoning. While temperance groups lost steam during the Civil War, after Reconstruction, they began to grow in popularity again.
The reason that temperance rose in popularity to begin with was, unsurprisingly, alcoholism and behaviors associated with drunkenness. During the late 18th and early 19th centuries, clean drinking water, especially in big cities like New York, could be difficult to come by. As a result,many people (including children) drank alcoholic beverages like beer, cider, or wine, as it was more sanitary. However, as alcohol became easier to produce and cheaper, hard liquors became more popular, and drunkenness increased (viaPBS).
Many temperance groups were also driven heavily by women and women’s rights groups.
Alcohol was seen as a scourge from a religious and moral standpoint, which is why many temperance groups were linked to Protestantism. Many temperance groups were also driven heavily by women and women’s rights groups. At the time, women were entirely limited by their husbands. Increased alcohol consumption was a threat, then, both becauseit could lead directly to increased violence against women and could see husbands spending time and money on alcoholrather than caring for their family, so it makes sense that many of the people seen in Ada’s meeting are women.
Ada’s Joining The Temperance Movement In The Gilded Age Explained
It Allows The Show To Explore A Real Historical Movement
WhenThe Gilded Ageseason 3’s premiere first introduces Ada’s new commitment to the temperance movement, it seems like an odd choice. The series is so much about the sumptuous lifestyles of its wealthy characters andtemperance feels like the opposite of that. However, as the episode continues, the decision to include temperance in the season and why Ada specifically would get involved begins to make more sense.
The Gilded Agehas covered real-life eventsin the history of New York, from the characters seeing the hand of the Statue of Liberty to the completion of the Brooklyn Bridge. On a broader scale, it has also dealt with the ongoing racism in New York and the South through Peggy Scott’s eyes, and the beginnings of labor unions through George’s business.It makes sense that season 3 would continue to discuss important historical movements and events, and temperance is an interesting one to pick, especially considering that Prohibition began only a few decades later.
Beyond fitting withThe Gilded Age’s time period, Ada joining the temperance movement also makes sense for her character. InThe Gilded Ageseason 1, Ada received relatively little character development; compared to her older sister, Agnes, she was quite timid and often seemed lonely. Ada’s season 2 romance allowed her happiness with Luke Forte, but it was taken away from her quickly when he died. She is now left trying to pick up the pieces,andAda’s immediate response was to throw herself into a new cause.
Ada sees the cause of temperance as a way to honor Luke’s memory.
Without Reverend Forte in her life, Ada is now in mourning and seeking a way forward. She even connects her decision to join the temperance movement with his role in the church. WhileAgnes quickly points out that Forte himself served wine as communion, Ada sees the cause of temperance as a way to honor Luke’s memory while simultaneously distracting herself from reality and coping with her loss.
The Temperance Movement Is Controversial To The Gilded Age’s Other Characters
Agnes Is Already Angry About Ada’s New Choice
While the temperance movement was growing in popularity during the late 19th century, it isn’t proving popular with the othercharacters ofThe Gilded Age. While some, like Aurora and Marian, sit politely through Ada’s meeting,Agnes is much more openly disdainful. In her view, drinking alcohol is just something that one does, and it would even be somewhat impolite to refuse. As with many other issues, for Agnes, having alcohol with dinner is a matter of society and how things have always been done.
Even the more respectful Van Rhijn family members like Marian, Aurora, and Oscar do not agree with Ada’s new cause, but want to support Aunt Ada. Likewise, Peggy is uninterested while shifting her secretarial duties to Ada’s cause. As Agnes noted,temperance went against the norm of Gilded Age society. Some saw temperance as policing individuals' rights to drink, and alcohol was a big industry (viaLibrary of Congress).
The Gilded Ageseason 3, episode 2 will air Sunday, June 29 on HBO Max.
Given how much time Ada’s new interest was given in the season 3 opener, it seems likely that audiences will be seeing more of the temperance movement in future episodes ofThe Gilded Ageseason 3. Whether Ada and her cause will be able to make larger changes in New York society remains to be seen, but it does feel safe to say that it will continue to be a topic of contention for Ada and Agnes within their new power dynamic.
