Poetry · Chapter
A Retort explained
The narrator delivers a sharp retort against Barnes, accusing him of projecting his own flaws onto others, referencing the 'Ralston collar mark' as a symbol of his disgrace, and sarcastically advising him to return to Yale to complete his e
What happens
The narrator delivers a sharp retort against Barnes, accusing him of projecting his own flaws onto others, referencing the 'Ralston collar mark' as a symbol of his disgrace, and sarcastically advising him to return to Yale to complete his education and learn to play the fool properly.
Themes in this chapter
Hypocrisy and Corruption
Barnes is accused of railing against faults in others that are actually his own, highlighting hypocrisy.
Deception and Self-Deception
The poem suggests Barnes is blind to his own flaws, a form of self-deception.
Characters to notice
- Barnes
Target of the retort, accused of projecting his own vices and bearing the mark of the Ralston collar.
Key passages
“As vicious women think all men are knaves, And shrew-bound gentlemen discourse of slaves; As reeling drunkards judge the world unsteady, And idlers swear employers ne'er get ready— Thieves that the constable stole all they had, The mad that all except themselves are mad; So, in another's clear escutcheon shown, Barnes rails at stains reflected from his own;”
Just as bitter women assume all men are dishonest, and henpecked men talk about slaves; just as drunkards think the world is unsteady, and lazy people claim employers are never ready; just as thieves say the police stole everything, and mad people think everyone else is mad—so Barnes criticizes the faults in others that are actually his own reflection.
The narrator uses a series of analogies to illustrate how people project their own flaws onto others, culminating in the accusation against Barnes.
“Prates of 'docility,' nor feels the dark Ring round his neck—the Ralston collar mark.”
He babbles about 'docility' but doesn't feel the dark ring around his neck—the mark of the Ralston collar.
Barnes is accused of being unaware of his own disgrace, symbolized by the Ralston collar mark.
“Back, man, to studies interrupted once, Ere yet the rogue had merged into the dunce— Back, back to Yale! and, grown with years discreet, The course a virgin's lust cut short, complete. Go drink again at the Pierian pool, And learn at least better to play the fool.”
Go back, man, to the studies you once abandoned before the rogue turned into a dunce—go back to Yale! And now, with years of discretion, finish the course that a virgin's lust cut short. Go drink again from the Pierian spring, and at least learn to play the fool better.
The narrator sarcastically advises Barnes to return to Yale to complete his education, implying his current behavior is foolish and unlearned.