← All chapters
Poetry · Chapter
CLXVI explained
A brief exchange between a philanthropist and a pauper, where the philanthropist dismisses the pauper for having nothing to offer.
What happens
A brief exchange between a philanthropist and a pauper, where the philanthropist dismisses the pauper for having nothing to offer.
Themes in this chapter
Hypocrisy and Corruption
The philanthropist's refusal to help the pauper reveals a hollow charity.
Deception and Self-Deception
The philanthropist claims a title of generosity but acts selfishly.
Characters to notice
- Unknown
The narrator may be the philanthropist or the pauper in this dialogue.
Key passages
“"Who art thou?" "A philanthropist. And thou?" "A pauper." "Away! you have nothing to relieve my need."”
A person claiming to be a philanthropist rejects a pauper because the pauper has nothing to give in return.
The dialogue satirizes the transactional nature of charity.