Poetry · Chapter
To a Bully explained
The narrator directly addresses George Perry, a lawyer and former state legislator, accusing him of hypocrisy, bullying witnesses in court, and possibly abusing his wife.
What happens
The narrator directly addresses George Perry, a lawyer and former state legislator, accusing him of hypocrisy, bullying witnesses in court, and possibly abusing his wife. The narrator imagines cross-examining Perry to expose his faults, ultimately dismissing him as one of many corrupt lawyers destined for a private Hell.
Themes in this chapter
Hypocrisy and Corruption
The poem attacks George Perry's hypocrisy as a lawyer who bullies witnesses while hiding his own faults, and criticizes the corruption of the legal profession.
Justice and Revenge
The narrator imagines a vengeful cross-examination of Perry, suggesting a desire for poetic justice against bullies and corrupt lawyers.
Characters to notice
- George Perry
The subject of the poem, a lawyer and former state legislator, accused of bullying witnesses and hypocrisy.
Key passages
“They say, George Perry, you’re a lawyer. Well, At least that’s your profession, but in fact, Law’s like religion (though, the truth to tell, The likeness is not otherwise exact) In this, that in them both, my learned brother, Profession’s one thing, practice quite another.”
People call you a lawyer, but like religion, the profession and the actual practice are very different.
The narrator introduces the theme of hypocrisy by contrasting Perry's profession with his actions.
“You hold it right to torture men who come (Heaven knows unwillingly) to aid the law, So that by terror of your tongue made dumb They can’t tell rightly what they heard or saw, “Impeaching credibility,” you call it When, seeing an honest looking head, you maul it.”
You think it's acceptable to intimidate witnesses so they can't testify truthfully, calling it 'impeaching credibility' when you attack an honest person.
The narrator accuses Perry of abusing his power as a lawyer to bully witnesses.
“What, you’re no worse than other lawyers? Well, I never said you were, my little man. Do you suppose I run this private Hell For one small soul? ’Tis your entire clan I’m trying to barbecue, despite their pleadings. Get out, you brat! you hamper the proceedings!”
You're no worse than other lawyers? I never claimed you were. I'm not running this private Hell just for you—I'm after your whole profession. Now get out, you're interfering!
The narrator dismisses Perry as just one of many corrupt lawyers, expanding the critique to the entire legal profession.