Poetry · Chapter
To the Rich and Great explained
A scathing poetic indictment of the wealthy and powerful, accusing them of hypocrisy, greed, and exploitation under the guise of Christian brotherly love.
What happens
A scathing poetic indictment of the wealthy and powerful, accusing them of hypocrisy, greed, and exploitation under the guise of Christian brotherly love. The speaker condemns the rich for caring only about material gain—skinning the poor for furs, slippers, and private luxuries—while feigning piety.
Themes in this chapter
Social Injustice and Class
The poem directly attacks the rich for their exploitation of the poor, tearing 'the skin from off his back' for personal gain, highlighting class oppression.
Faith and Hypocrisy
The rich are called 'hypocrites and chatterers' who claim to follow the apostle's law of brotherly love but in reality care only for material wealth, exposing religious hypocrisy.
Characters to notice
- Unknown
The unnamed speaker delivers a direct, accusatory address to the rich and great, condemning their hypocrisy and greed.
Key passages
“Is it by the apostle’s law That ye your brother love? Hypocrites and chatterers, Ye’re cursed of God above.”
Do you claim to follow the Christian commandment to love your brother? You are nothing but hypocrites and gossips, cursed by God.
Opens with a rhetorical challenge, accusing the rich of false piety.
“The skin from off his back you’d tear, Some trifling prize to win.”
You would flay the poor man alive just to gain a small profit.
Vivid metaphor for ruthless exploitation.
“There’s furs for your daughter, Slippers for your wife, And things that you don’t utter About your private life.”
You buy luxuries for your family and hide your secret indulgences.
Contrasts public display of wealth with hidden private vices.