# On the Scales explained — Poetry

> Chapter companion for Poetry by Ambrose Bierce.

## What happens

The narrator uses the proverb that every loss brings some gain to satirize a political figure, the Dear Governor, who lost weight during an illness. The loss is dismissed as merely water weight, while his character remains unchanged and corrupt. The poem also touches on the political manipulation involving Mark Boruck and the weekly Harridan.

## Themes in this chapter

### Political Satire

The entire poem is a satirical attack on the Dear Governor, mocking his physical loss while highlighting his unchanged corrupt character.

### Hypocrisy and Corruption

The Governor's illness is portrayed as having no positive effect on his moral failings, emphasizing the persistence of corruption.

## Character check-ins

### Waterman

Referenced in the opening proverb and as the source of the lost weight, symbolizing the trivial nature of the loss.

### Dear Governor

The target of satire; lost weight during illness but remains foolish, absurd, malicious, and perverse.

### Mark Boruck

Mentioned as being led from the stall by the Governor, implying political manipulation.

## Key lines

> The proverb hath it, Waterman: “There never is great loss without Some little gain.”

The saying attributed to Waterman states that every great loss comes with a small benefit.

_Opens the poem with a ironic proverb that sets up the satire._

> For still you’re foolish and absurd, And still malicious and perverse As ever; and in truth I’ve heard That since recovering you’re worse.

You remain just as foolish, absurd, malicious, and perverse as before, and reportedly even worse after recovery.

_Highlights the unchanged and worsened character of the Governor._

> To end: the weight whose loss we mourn, From Waterman by illness torn, Was mostly water —it were droll To learn he’d twenty pounds of man !

In conclusion, the weight lost by Waterman during illness was mostly water, and it would be amusing to think he actually lost twenty pounds of substance.

_Puns on 'Waterman' and 'water' to trivialize the loss and mock the Governor._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_se/chapters/on-the-scales
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_se/chapters