# Business explained — Poetry

> Chapter companion for Poetry by Ambrose Bierce.

## What happens

Two high-ranking villains attempt to rob a bank but find it impenetrable. Instead, they buy stock in the bank and become its President and Cashier, using their positions for crime. The narrator admits to overdrawing and fleeing.

## Themes in this chapter

### Hypocrisy and Corruption

The villains become bank officials, using legitimate positions to commit crime, highlighting institutional hypocrisy.

### Deception and Self-Deception

The villains deceive themselves and others, believing their scheme is safe while engaging in theft.

## Character check-ins

### Unknown

The narrator recounts the tale and confesses to overdrawing and leaving.

## Key lines

> Two villains of the highest rank Set out one night to rob a bank.

Two highly respected criminals planned to rob a bank.

_Introduces the protagonists as both villainous and of high status._

> So, full of hope, the following day To the exchange they took their way And bought, with manner free and frank, Some stock of that devoted bank; And they became, inside the year, One President and one Cashier.

The next day, they confidently bought stock in the bank and within a year became its President and Cashier.

_Describes the ironic twist where the would-be robbers become bank leaders._

> Their crime I can no further trace— The means of safety to embrace, I overdrew and left the place.

I cannot follow their crime further; to protect myself, I overdrew my account and fled.

_The narrator confesses to his own financial crime and escape._

## Links

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