Poetry · Chapter
The Transmigrations of a Soul explained
The narrator launches a scathing poetic attack on Pixley, condemning his hypocrisy, miserliness, drunkenness, and lack of virtue.
What happens
The narrator launches a scathing poetic attack on Pixley, condemning his hypocrisy, miserliness, drunkenness, and lack of virtue. He accuses Pixley of worshiping money, denouncing wine while indulging in drink, and embodying every vice, ultimately claiming Pixley rivals Satan himself.
Themes in this chapter
Hypocrisy and Corruption
Pixley is denounced for preaching teetotalism while drinking, and for his shifting vices of miserliness, drunkenness, and lying.
Deception and Self-Deception
Pixley is portrayed as a meritorious liar who deceives others and himself about his own virtues.
Characters to notice
- Frank Pixley
Subject of the narrator's vitriolic critique, accused of miserliness, drunkenness, hypocrisy, and lacking all noble virtues.
- Jack Satan
Invoked as a rival to Pixley, who is said to surpass Satan in vice and shamelessness.
Key passages
“What! Pixley, must I hear you call the roll Of all the vices that infest your soul?”
The narrator expresses disbelief that Pixley would openly list his own vices.
Opens the poem with direct address and accusation.
“Who worships money, damning all beside, And shows his callous knees with pious pride...”
Pixley is a money-worshiper who hypocritically displays false piety.
Highlights the theme of hypocrisy.
“Yield thee, great Satan—here's a rival name With all thy vices and but half thy shame!”
Pixley is presented as a rival to Satan, possessing all of Satan's vices but even less shame.
Climactic comparison elevating Pixley's corruption to demonic levels.