# A Constructor explained — Poetry

> Chapter companion for Poetry by Ambrose Bierce.

## What happens

The narrator encounters the Devil building a customs-house by the sea. When asked why, the Devil replies that he has built enough churches.

## Themes in this chapter

### Hypocrisy and Corruption

The Devil building a customs-house suggests a critique of institutional corruption, contrasting with his usual association with churches.

## Character check-ins

### Jack Satan

The Devil is seen building a customs-house by the sea, stating he has built enough churches.

## Key lines

> I saw the devil. He was working free⁠— A customs-house he builded by the sea. “Why do you this?” The devil raised his head: “Of churches I have built enough,” he said.

The narrator sees the Devil freely constructing a customs-house by the sea. When questioned, the Devil replies that he has already built enough churches.

_The Devil's shift from building churches to a customs-house implies a commentary on the corruption of commerce and governance._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_se/chapters/a-constructor
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_se/chapters