# CLXVI explained — Poetry

> Chapter companion for Poetry by Ambrose Bierce.

## 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.

## Character check-ins

### Unknown

The narrator may be the philanthropist or the pauper in this dialogue.

## Key lines

> "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._

## Links

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