# To Either explained — Poetry

> Chapter companion for Poetry by Ambrose Bierce.

## What happens

A poetic comparison between a wealthy man and a beggar who both die on the same day, share the same name, and are ultimately forgotten, questioning the value of monuments and fame.

## Themes in this chapter

### Mortality and Regret

Both the wealthy man and the beggar die on the same day, and their fates are ultimately forgotten, highlighting the inevitability of death and the futility of worldly achievements.

### Hypocrisy and Corruption

The wealthy man builds a monument to woo fame, but both he and the beggar share the same name and are forgotten, exposing the hypocrisy of seeking lasting recognition.

## Character check-ins

### Unknown

The narrator reflects on the lives and deaths of a wealthy man and a beggar.

## Key lines

> Great souls are born to be, not do!

Exceptional individuals are defined by their inherent nature rather than their actions.

_The narrator justifies the wealthy man's lack of virtuous deeds by suggesting greatness is innate._

> He asked for bread, ’Twas neatly said: 'He’ll get not even a stone instead.'

The beggar, who asked for sustenance, receives nothing in death—not even a stone as a marker.

_A grim epitaph for the beggar, emphasizing his complete neglect._

> That lofty tomb, then, honored—whom? For argument here’s ample room.

The grand tomb raises the question of who it truly honors, leaving much room for debate.

_The narrator questions the purpose of the monument when both men share the same name and are forgotten._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_se/chapters/to-either
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_se/chapters