# The Perverted Village explained — Poetry

> Chapter companion for Poetry by Ambrose Bierce.

## What happens

A satirical inversion of Oliver Goldsmith's 'The Deserted Village,' this poem portrays a village rife with gossip, disease, and slander, where the speaker longs for death to escape the torment of its inhabitants, ultimately preferring to be devoured by wolves than endure the cruelty of women.

## Themes in this chapter

### Hypocrisy and Corruption

The village is portrayed as a place of slander, gossip, and disease, where innocence is driven away and reputations are destroyed.

### Political Satire

The poem uses Goldsmith's pastoral form to critique societal decay, particularly the malice of women and the moral corruption of the community.

## Character check-ins

### Unknown

The speaker who laments the perverted village and wishes for death to escape its slander.

## Key lines

> How often have I knelt upon thy green / And prayed for death, to mitigate their spleen!

The speaker has frequently prayed for death to escape the villagers' spite.

_Highlights the speaker's despair and the oppressive nature of the village._

> The cowthorn bush with seats beneath the shade, / Where hearts are struck and reputations flayed;

The village gathering places are where people's reputations are destroyed.

_Illustrates the theme of slander and social cruelty._

> For wolves do not calumniate, but rend⁠— / Sinks piecemeal to their maws, a willing prey, / While resignation lubricates the way, / And all her prospects brighten at the last: / To wolves, not women, an approved repast.

Being eaten by wolves is preferable to the slander of women, as wolves kill without malice.

_Emphasizes the poem's misanthropic and satirical tone._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_se/chapters/the-perverted-village
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_se/chapters