# Epigraph explained — Little Caesar

> Chapter companion for Little Caesar by W. R. Burnett.

## What happens

The epigraph presents a Machiavellian warning about the natural law of self-preservation and the inevitable consequences of one's actions, foreshadowing the novel's themes of crime and consequence.

## Themes in this chapter

### Crime and Consequence

The epigraph's warning that sowing hemlock yields no corn directly alludes to the inescapable repercussions of criminal actions, a central theme of the novel.

### Fate and Inevitability

Machiavelli's assertion of a 'first law' of self-preservation suggests an inexorable natural order, hinting at the fatalistic trajectory of the characters.

## Key lines

> The first law of every being, is to preserve itself and live. You sow hemlock, and expect to see ears of corn ripen

Every creature's primary instinct is survival. You cannot plant poison and expect a wholesome harvest.

_This Machiavellian aphorism sets up the novel's moral framework, implying that evil deeds lead to destructive outcomes._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/little_caesar_se/chapters/epigraph
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/little_caesar_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/little_caesar_se/chapters