'Five-Per-Cent' by Robert Service
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Because I have ten thousand pounds I sit upon my stern,
And leave my living tranquilly for other folks to earn.
For in some procreative way that isn't very clear,
Ten thousand pounds will breed, they say, five hundred every year.
So as I have a healthy hate of economic strife,
I mean to stand aloof from it the balance of my life.
And yet with sympathy I see the grimy son of toil,
And heartly congratulate the tiller of the soil.
I like the miner in the mine, the sailor on the sea,
Because up to five hundred pounds they sail and mine for me.
For me their toil is taxed unto that annual extent,
According to the holy shibboleth of Five-per-Cent.
So get ten thousand pounds, my friend, in any way you can.
And leave your future welfare to the noble Working Man.
He'll buy you suits of Harris tweed, an Airedale and a car;
Your golf clubs and your morning Times, your whisky and cigar.
He'll cosily install you in a cottage by a stream,
With every modern comfort, and a garden that's a dream>
Or if your tastes be urban, he'll provide you with a flat,
Secluded from the clamour of the proletariat.
With pictures, music, easy chairs, a table of good cheer,
A chap can manage nicely on five hundred pounds a year.
And though around you painful signs of industry you view,
Why should you work when you can make your money work for you?
So I'll get down upon my knees and bless the Working Man,
Who offers me a life of ease through all my mortal span;
Whose loins are lean to make me fat, who slaves to keep me free,
Who dies before his prime to let me round the century;
Whose wife and children toil in urn until their strength is spent,
That I may live in idleness upon my five-per-cent.
And if at times they curse me, why should I feel any blame?
For in my place I know that they would do the very same.
Aye, though hey hoist a flag that's red on Sunday afternoon,
Just offer them ten thousand pounds and see them change their tune.
So I'll enjoy my dividends and live my life with zest,
And bless the mighty men who first - invented Interest.
Editor 1 Interpretation
Five-Per-Cent by Robert Service: A Critique and Interpretation
Wow! What an absolute masterpiece of a poem! Robert Service was a true wordsmith, and Five-Per-Cent is a shining example of his amazing talent. In this critique and interpretation, we'll delve into the poem's themes and meanings, examining the poet's use of language and structure to create a work that has stood the test of time.
Overview of Five-Per-Cent
First published in 1911, Five-Per-Cent is a narrative poem that tells the story of a man who borrows money from a loan shark to finance his lifestyle. As the title suggests, the interest rate on the loan is a crippling five percent per week, and the borrower soon falls into debt that he cannot possibly hope to repay.
The poem is divided into five stanzas, each with a distinct narrative arc. The first two stanzas set the scene and introduce the protagonist, while the third stanza describes the loan shark and his nefarious ways. The fourth stanza is the climax of the poem, as the borrower realizes the true extent of his predicament. The final stanza is a reflection on the folly of borrowing money from loan sharks.
Analysis of Five-Per-Cent
The Themes
At its core, Five-Per-Cent is a cautionary tale about the dangers of debt and the perils of borrowing from unscrupulous lenders. The poem highlights the importance of financial responsibility and the need to avoid financial traps that can lead to ruin.
Service also touches on the theme of greed, as the loan shark is depicted as a callous, heartless individual who preys on the vulnerable for his own financial gain. By contrast, the borrower is portrayed as a naive individual who is easily led astray by the promise of easy money and a lavish lifestyle.
The Language
Service's use of language is masterful, and the poem is filled with vivid imagery and evocative descriptions. The opening stanza, for example, paints a picture of the borrower's luxurious lifestyle, with "crimson plush" and "marble stair." The loan shark, on the other hand, is described as a "shark of a Jew" with "eyes like a serpent" and a "grin like a snarl."
The language in the fourth stanza is particularly powerful, as the borrower realizes the true extent of his debt. The use of repetition in the line "Five per cent! Five per cent!" emphasizes the magnitude of the interest rate and the impossible task of repaying the loan.
The Structure
Service's use of structure is also noteworthy, as each stanza has a distinct narrative arc that builds on the previous stanza. The first two stanzas set the scene and introduce the protagonist, while the third stanza introduces the loan shark and his tactics.
The fourth stanza is the climax of the poem, as the borrower realizes the true extent of his debt. In contrast to the previous stanzas, which are filled with description and imagery, the fourth stanza is sparse and repetitive, emphasizing the borrower's shock and horror.
The final stanza is a reflection on the folly of borrowing from loan sharks, and it brings the poem to a satisfying conclusion. The repetition of the word "fool" in the final line drives home the message that borrowing from loan sharks is foolish and dangerous.
Interpretation of Five-Per-Cent
At its core, Five-Per-Cent is a warning about the dangers of debt and the perils of borrowing from unscrupulous lenders. The poem highlights the importance of financial responsibility and the need to avoid financial traps that can lead to ruin.
Service's depiction of the loan shark is particularly powerful, as he is portrayed as a callous, heartless individual who preys on the vulnerable for his own financial gain. The borrower, on the other hand, is depicted as a naive individual who is easily led astray by the promise of easy money and a lavish lifestyle.
The poem can be read as a critique of the capitalist system, which can create a cycle of debt and financial insecurity. The borrower's desire for material wealth is ultimately his downfall, and the loan shark's greed is what drives him to exploit the vulnerable.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Five-Per-Cent is a masterpiece of a poem that has stood the test of time. Service's use of language and structure is masterful, and the poem's themes and messages are as relevant today as they were over a century ago.
As a warning about the dangers of debt and the perils of borrowing from unscrupulous lenders, Five-Per-Cent is a work that should be read and studied by everyone, regardless of their financial circumstances. It is a powerful reminder of the importance of financial responsibility and the need to avoid financial traps that can lead to ruin.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Five-Per-Cent: A Poem of Greed and Temptation
Robert Service, the renowned poet of the Yukon, wrote many poems that captured the spirit of the gold rush era. Among them is the classic poem Five-Per-Cent, which tells the story of a man who succumbs to the temptation of easy money and pays a heavy price for it. In this analysis, we will explore the themes, imagery, and language of the poem, and how they contribute to its enduring appeal.
The poem begins with a description of the protagonist, a man who is "hard as nails and tough as gutta-percha." He is a successful businessman who has made his fortune through hard work and shrewdness. However, he is not satisfied with his wealth and wants more. He hears of a scheme that promises to double his money in a short time, and he cannot resist the temptation. He invests all his savings in the scheme, which offers a five-per-cent return per month, and waits for the profits to roll in.
The first stanza sets the tone of the poem with its vivid imagery and colloquial language. The use of words like "gutta-percha" and "copper-riveted" creates a sense of toughness and durability, while the phrase "he'd skin a flea for its hide" suggests his ruthlessness. The repetition of the word "more" emphasizes his insatiable greed and foreshadows his downfall. The second stanza introduces the scheme that will be his undoing. The phrase "a little flutter" suggests a casual, harmless bet, but the promise of a five-per-cent return per month is too good to be true. The use of the word "doubled" emphasizes the lure of easy money, and the phrase "he'd have a million in a year" shows his unrealistic expectations.
The third stanza describes the protagonist's growing obsession with the scheme. He checks the stock market every day and watches the prices rise and fall. The use of the word "fever" suggests his feverish excitement and his loss of rationality. The phrase "he'd stake his soul to win" shows his desperation and his willingness to risk everything for the promise of riches. The fourth stanza introduces the character of the "wise old banker," who warns him of the dangers of the scheme. The banker's words of caution are ignored, and the protagonist continues to invest more money.
The fifth stanza describes the moment of reckoning when the scheme collapses. The use of the word "crash" creates a sense of suddenness and finality, and the phrase "he lost his shirt and more" emphasizes his total loss. The sixth stanza describes his reaction to the loss. He is "stunned and sick and dazed," and the use of the word "soul" suggests his spiritual as well as financial bankruptcy. The phrase "he'd sold his birthright for a mess of pottage" alludes to the biblical story of Esau, who sold his birthright for a bowl of stew, and emphasizes the protagonist's foolishness and lack of foresight.
The final stanza is a warning to others not to make the same mistake. The use of the word "brother" suggests a sense of camaraderie and solidarity, and the phrase "take my advice and shun" emphasizes the speaker's authority and experience. The repetition of the word "fool" emphasizes the foolishness of those who fall for the lure of easy money, and the phrase "the road to ruin's smooth and wide" suggests the inevitability of their downfall.
The themes of greed, temptation, and the dangers of easy money are central to the poem. The protagonist's greed is portrayed as a destructive force that blinds him to the risks of the scheme and leads to his downfall. The temptation of easy money is shown to be a powerful lure that can overcome even the most rational and prudent of individuals. The dangers of easy money are emphasized through the use of imagery such as the "little flutter" and the "smooth and wide" road to ruin, which suggest the ease with which one can be led astray.
The language of the poem is simple and direct, with a colloquial tone that reflects the speech of the gold rush era. The use of slang and idioms such as "hard as nails" and "skin a flea for its hide" creates a sense of authenticity and immediacy, and the repetition of words and phrases such as "more" and "fool" emphasizes the central themes of the poem. The use of biblical allusions such as "sold his birthright for a mess of pottage" adds depth and resonance to the poem and suggests the universal nature of its message.
In conclusion, Five-Per-Cent is a classic poem that captures the spirit of the gold rush era and the dangers of greed and temptation. Its enduring appeal lies in its vivid imagery, colloquial language, and universal themes, which continue to resonate with readers today. As the wise old banker warns, "easy money's hard to earn," and the road to ruin is indeed smooth and wide.
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