# LXXXIV explained — The Rubáiyát of Omar Khayyám

> Chapter companion for The Rubáiyát of Omar Khayyám by Omar Khayyám.

## What happens

A voice among the company reflects on the seeming futility of human existence, questioning whether the soul's substance was taken from the common Earth and molded into a conscious form only to be broken or trampled back into shapelessness.

## Themes in this chapter

### The Potter and Clay Metaphor

The speaker uses the image of being molded from common Earth and then broken, directly invoking the potter-and-clay metaphor to question the purpose of creation.

### Skepticism and Doubt

The line 'Surely not in vain' expresses a skeptical doubt about divine or cosmic intention, questioning whether human existence has any ultimate meaning.

## Character check-ins

### The Bonhomme

The speaker among the company who voices existential doubt about the purpose of being molded from Earth only to be destroyed.

## Key lines

> Said one among them⁠—'Surely not in vain My substance of the common Earth was ta’en And to this Figure moulded, to be broke, Or trampled back to shapeless Earth again.'

One of the company said: 'Surely it cannot be for nothing that my essence was taken from the ordinary Earth and shaped into this human form, only to be shattered or crushed back into formless dirt.'

_The speaker laments the apparent pointlessness of being given conscious form if it is destined for destruction._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_rub_iy_t_of_omar_khayy_m_se/chapters/lxxxiv
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_rub_iy_t_of_omar_khayy_m_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_rub_iy_t_of_omar_khayy_m_se/chapters