# Compliance explained — Poetry

> Chapter companion for Poetry by Ambrose Bierce.

## What happens

A short poem contrasting the outward piety of Rockefeller senior and junior with their actions, suggesting a theme of hypocrisy in religious and moral compliance.

## Themes in this chapter

### Hypocrisy and Corruption

The poem juxtaposes the Rockefellers' public piety with their business practices, highlighting the gap between professed virtue and actual behavior.

## Key lines

> Compliance Said Rockefeller, senior, to his boy: “Be good and you shall have eternal joy.” Said Rockefeller, junior, to his dad: “I never do a single thing that’s bad.”

The elder Rockefeller instructs his son to be good for eternal reward, while the son claims to never do wrong.

_Sets up the contrast between instruction and self-perception._

> Said Rockefeller, senior⁠—long gone gray In service at the altar: “Ever pray.” And Rockefeller, junior, being bid. Upon his knees and neighbors ever did.

The elder, aged from religious devotion, urges constant prayer; the younger, when told, prays and also preys upon his neighbors.

_Puns on 'pray' and 'prey' to underscore the hypocrisy of exploiting others while appearing devout._

## Links

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