They might eat “hamely” or plain, “fare” and “Wear hoddin-gray, an a’ that” but they do not want to give these features of their lives away.
He uses this section to describe what their lives are like and how they do not need luxuries to be content with life. In the next lines, the speaker expands his narrative to include all of those who count themselves among the poor. Gie fools their silks, and knaves their wine,
He is exclaiming over society’s false equivalence between wealth and worth. It is often utilized sarcastically, such as in this instance. In fact, societal ranking is worth nothing more than “the guinea’s stamp.” It is this small amount of worth that a “man’s the gowd,” or gold, “for a’ that.” The speaker uses the phrase “for a’ that” in a number of different ways in this piece. He makes sure to state at the end of these lines that “rank” or position in life is not defined by money. This is not something to fret over or structure one’s life around. Here, the speaker exclaims over the way that those who are poor are treated. The next lines speak to what it means to be a “slave” as well as looked down on for one’s wealth, or lack thereof. Poverty is “honest” in a way that wealth and position are not. Words such as “and” and “all” are shortened to “an’” and “a’.” The speaker begins by asking why one should hang their head if they are poor. In the first stanza of ‘For a’ That and a’ That’ a reader is immediately struck by the use of the Scottish dialect within the text. In conclusion, the speaker expresses his hope that one day the world will change and all men will “Brothers be.” One day, society will rid itself of its hierarchical class structure.Īnalysis of For a’ That and a’ That Stanza One They are “coof,” or foolish and the independently minded man is elevated above them. This is expanded so that the principle can take down princes and lords from their high position. The speaker believes that honesty is much more important to one’s worth than clothes or which foods a man eats. The poem begins with the speaker describing how man’s value is not contained in how much he owns or how he acts. ‘ For a’ That and a’ That’ by Robert Burns describes the true worth of man and how it is not defined by wealth, position, or possessions.
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