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Poetry · Chapter
CXXVI explained
The chapter discusses the most disagreeable form of masculine hypocrisy, which manifests as pretended remorse for impossible gallantries.
What happens
The chapter discusses the most disagreeable form of masculine hypocrisy, which manifests as pretended remorse for impossible gallantries.
Themes in this chapter
Hypocrisy and Corruption
The chapter explicitly condemns masculine hypocrisy expressed through false remorse for impossible gallantries.
Deception and Self-Deception
The pretended remorse described is a form of self-deception and deception of others.
Key passages
“The most disagreeable form of masculine hypocrisy is that which finds expression in pretended remorse for impossible gallantries.”
The worst kind of male hypocrisy is when a man fakes regret for romantic or sexual adventures that never actually happened.
Condemns false remorse as a particularly odious form of hypocrisy.