# Chapter CX explained — Poetry

> Chapter companion for Poetry by Ambrose Bierce.

## What happens

A woman who spent her life asserting the superiority of her sex dies, expecting rest and honors, but Saint Peter assigns her to wash the faces of cherubim.

## Themes in this chapter

### Hypocrisy and Corruption

The woman's expectation of honor contrasts with her mundane heavenly assignment, suggesting hypocrisy in self-proclaimed superiority.

## Character check-ins

### Saint Peter

Assigns the deceased woman to wash cherubim's faces.

## Key lines

> A woman died who had passed her life in affirming the superiority of her sex. “At last,” she said, “I shall have rest and honors.” “Enter,” said Saint Peter; “thou shalt wash the faces of the dear little cherubim.”

A woman who always claimed women were better than men died, expecting peace and praise, but Saint Peter told her to wash the cherubim's faces.

_Condenses the ironic twist of the woman's expectation versus reality._

## Links

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