# The Rivals explained — Poetry

> Chapter companion for Poetry by James Weldon Johnson.

## What happens

The narrator recounts how he won Anna Liza by outsmarting his rival Sam during a big revival meeting. While Sam dressed in fine store-bought clothes to impress Liza, the narrator sabotaged Sam's mule, causing a humiliating fall. The narrator then walked Liza home and secured her affection, learning that she valued him over fancy clothes.

## Themes in this chapter

### Love and Beauty

The narrator's pursuit of Liza, described as 'mighty purty' and 'de greates' 'traction in de county,' drives the rivalry and the chapter's central conflict.

### Resilience and Hope

Despite feeling hopeless and considering hiding in the woods, the narrator devises a clever plan to win Liza, demonstrating resourcefulness and determination.

## Character check-ins

### Sam

The narrator's rival for Liza's affection; he dresses in fine clothes to impress her but is humiliated when his mule throws him into a ditch.

### Lize

The beautiful woman courted by both the narrator and Sam; she ultimately chooses the narrator after Sam's public fall.

### Miss Liza

Another name for Lize, the object of the narrator's affection.

## Key lines

> Sam he had de mostes dollars, an' I had de mostes sense.

Sam had more money, but I had more intelligence.

_The narrator contrasts his cleverness with Sam's wealth, foreshadowing his eventual victory through wit._

> She says, 'Jeans is good enough fu' any po' folks, heaben knows!'

She says, 'Plain clothes are good enough for any poor people, heaven knows!'

_Liza's final words affirm that she values the narrator for who he is, not for fancy attire._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_13_se/chapters/the-rivals
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_13_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_13_se/chapters