Twin Unworthies explained

What happens

Themes in this chapter

• Hypocrisy and Corruption

  The narrator condemns the moral corruption of those who flatter the rich for personal gain, exposing the hypocrisy of their servility.

• Political Satire

  The chapter uses biting satire to mock the social hierarchy and the unworthy hangers-on of the powerful.

Characters to notice

• Stanford

  Mentioned as one of the rich men to whom parasites attach themselves.

• Mr. Wilson

  Referenced as 'the thrifty tick' in the epigraph, a parasite on the rich.

Key passages

• “Ye parasites that to the rich men stick, As to the fattest sheep the thrifty tick⁠— Ed’ard to Stanford and to Crocker, Ben (To Ben and Ed’ard many meaner men, And lice to these)⁠—who do the kind of work That thieves would have the honesty to shirk⁠—”

  You parasites who cling to wealthy men like ticks on a fat sheep—Edward to Stanford and Crocker, Ben (and to them many lesser men, and lice to these)—who do work that even thieves would be too honest to do.

  The narrator opens by directly addressing sycophants, comparing them to parasites and thieves.

• “Whose wages are that your employers own The fat that reeks upon your every bone And deign to ask (the flattery how sweet!) About its health and how it stands the heat⁠—”

  Your only reward is that your employers own the fat that stinks on your bones and condescend to ask about its health and how it endures the heat—how sweet the flattery!

  The narrator mocks the sycophants' pathetic reward: being acknowledged by their wealthy patrons.

• “Hail and farewell! I meant to write about you, But, no, my page is cleaner far without you.”

  Greetings and goodbye! I intended to write about you, but no, my page is far cleaner without you.

  The narrator dismisses the parasites, declaring them unworthy of even being written about.