# On Giving and Taking explained — The Madman

> Chapter companion for The Madman by Khalil Gibran.

## What happens

A man with a valley-full of needles refuses to give a needle to the mother of Jesus, instead offering a discourse on giving and taking.

## Themes in this chapter

### Critique of Society and Religion

The man's refusal to give a simple needle while offering a discourse critiques hollow religiosity and hypocrisy.

## Character check-ins

### The Madman

The narrator who tells the parable of the man with needles.

## Key lines

> And he gave her not a needle, but he gave her a learned discourse on Giving and Taking to carry to her son before he should go to the temple.

Instead of giving her a needle, he gave her a lecture about giving and taking to pass on to her son.

_Highlights the irony of preaching generosity while refusing a simple request._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_madman_se/chapters/on-giving-and-taking
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_madman_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_madman_se/chapters