# The Oleomargarine Man explained — Poetry

> Chapter companion for Poetry by Ambrose Bierce.

## What happens

In Marin County, a thrifty butter-maker named Mr. Wilson attempts to churn a bull into butter, but the bull calmly defeats him and spreads the butterman on a slice of Southern Oregon.

## Themes in this chapter

### Deception and Self-Deception

Mr. Wilson's deluded confidence in his ability to churn the bull.

### Nature and Artifice

The contrast between the bull's natural calm and Wilson's artificial scheme.

## Character check-ins

### Mr. Wilson

The thrifty butterman who tries to churn a bull into butter.

## Key lines

> I'll spread this mammal on a slice of bread!

Wilson boasts he will turn the bull into butter.

_Wilson's repeated battle cry reveals his absurd ambition._

> I've spread that butterman upon a slice of Southern Oregon.

The bull claims to have defeated Wilson and spread him like butter.

_The bull's final line reverses the intended outcome._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_se/chapters/the-oleomargarine-man
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_se/chapters