# A Dilemma explained — Poetry

> Chapter companion for Poetry by Ambrose Bierce.

## What happens

The narrator describes his zealous career as a critic, damning others' works until challenged to produce his own. He writes many perfect books, but when he returns to criticism, he is condemned for attacking his own profession. The poem explores the paradox of the critic who must choose between honest judgment and professional hypocrisy.

## Themes in this chapter

### Hypocrisy and Corruption

The narrator is accused of hypocrisy for criticizing others after becoming a published author himself, highlighting the double standards applied to critics.

### Art and Criticism

The poem directly addresses the role of the critic, the pressure to produce art, and the conflict between critical honesty and professional courtesy.

## Character check-ins

### Unknown

The narrator, a critic who falls into the trap of publishing his own works and then faces condemnation for criticizing others in his profession.

## Key lines

> Let him who knows it all forbear to tell How little others know, but show his learning.

If you claim to know everything, stop pointing out others' ignorance and instead demonstrate your own knowledge.

_The narrator paraphrases the challenge thrown at him to publish his own work before criticizing others._

> Between the devil and the deep blue ocean!

Caught between two equally difficult choices.

_The narrator concludes that the critic is trapped between the duty to critique and the social consequences of doing so._

## Links

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