Bankers Are Just Like Anybody Else, – Ogden Nash ,Short summary and analysis

 Bankers Are Just Like Anybody Else,  – Ogden Nash

This is a song to celebrate banks,

Because they are full of money and you go into them and all

     you hear is clinks and clanks,

Or maybe a sound like the wind in the trees on the hills,

Which is the rustling of the thousand dollar bills.

Most bankers dwell in marble halls,

Which they get to dwell in because they encourage deposits

     and discourage withdrawals,

And particularly because they all observe one rule which

     woe betides the banker who fails to heed it,

Which is you must never lend any money to anybody unless

     they don't need it.

I know you, you cautious conservative banks!

If people are worried about their rent it is your duty to deny

     them the loan of one nickel, yes, even one copper

     engraving of the martyred son of the late Nancy Hanks;

Yes, if they request fifty dollars to pay for a baby you must

     look at them like Tarzan looking at an uppity ape in the

     jungle,

And tell them what do they think a bank is, anyhow, they had

      better go get the money from their wife's aunt or ungle.

But suppose people come in and they have a million and they

     want another million to pile on top of it,

Why, you brim with the milk of human kindness and you

     urge them to accept every drop of it,

And you lend them the million so then they have two million

     and this gives them the idea that they would be better off

     with four,

So they already have two million as security so you have no

     hesitation in lending them two more,

And all the vice-presidents nod their heads in rhythm,

And the only question asked is do the borrowers want the

     money sent or do they want to take it withm.

Because I think they deserve our appreciation and thanks,

     the jackasses who go around saying that health and happi-

     ness are everything and money isn't essential,

Because as soon as they have to borrow some unimportant

     money to maintain their health and happiness they starve

     to death so they can't go around any more sneering at good

     old money, which is nothing short of providential.

Short summary and analysis  

* The poet, Ogden Nash says in his poem “Bankers Are Just Like Anybody Else, Except Richer” that his poem intends to celebrate banks. Thus, he makes the readers feel curious when the poet states that his poem celebrates banks. 

* The banks will let us hear the clink-clank sound of the coins and the rustling sound of the currency notes. Of course, Money is an attraction that draws people towards it always and forever. Suddenly the poet changes the tone of his voice. 

* He comments that bankers dwell in luxurious buildings. It is because they encourage deposits and discourage withdrawals. The stingy attitude of the bankers in lending and particularly to the poor sets the tone of the poem. 

* He comments that banks are cautious conservatives and the bankers deny lending money to the needy. They dislike the people who have no money and no property to give them as security.

* But the bankers shrewdly and tactfully behave with the rich persons. On seeing their rich customers they express their kindliness and greet them courteously and offer to lend as much money as they want.

* They would serve the rich customers with utmost care and affection. The vice-presidents of the banks nod their heads positively to such proposals. They would even send money to the customers’ place if they want.    

* The poet says that bankers deserve our appreciation. The tone of the poet sounds very bitter and harsh. It means the very opposite of what is said.

* The poet criticizes the too much commercial attitude of the bankers. They are pro-rich and anti-poor. The banks have to act as catalysts of social change. 

* They have to see that the resources are evenly distributed among the various classes of society. They have to encourage the entrepreneurs and empower the deserving poor and hardworking people. But they are too cautious and conservative; they cannot discharge their duties to the society. 

* They have to fulfill the objectives of the banking industry.  They play safe and fail to realize their obligations and duties; they would only facilitate the rich to grow richer and the poor become poorer.

* The poet hints that bankers owe a duty to society. Wealth has to be distributed evenly. Those who do not have money but have the skills and talents, banks ought to help them to come up. 

* But if the bankers play only by rules and stick on to their conservatism and pro-rich stance, they can earn profits without the ‘social gains’. Such attitude is absolutely undeserving.

* Thus, the poet prompts the bankers and readers to think of their duties and responsibilities with the ultimate objectives of the banking industry.

Themes 

Bankers owe a duty to society

The poet hints that bankers owe a duty to society. Wealth has to be distributed evenly. Those who do not have money but have the skills and talents, banks ought to help them to come up.

Rigidity in banks 

Banks came to focus more on capital adequacy than responsible credit delivery. They became more inward looking than looking at matters that though the money which is deposited in the bank is solely customer's .