Short summary of the poem "Avarice" by George Herbert

 

Avarice is a poem composed by George Herbert, who is a metaphysical poet. This poem is about money. Here, money means gold. The process whereby metal is transferred from its 'cave or grot' and hammered into coins and then there is a process by which money is hammered with man's face.

 According to George Herbert money is given a face, a stamp, a right to command the labor of men and the production of the earth. We make money both physically and through our consent- we turn it into something that has value. When we possess money, we think that we are wealthy, but as Herbert points out in his ironic last line, the value of money is perpetual and our possession of it is ephemeral.

Money in Herbert's vision is only valued as an expression of man's intentions- his earthly desires. Herbert of course believes that fallen man can never achieve any happiness- money is thus a source of woe and bane of bliss because it is created by man and not by God.

Man, money and mining form the basis for Herbert’s exploration in this poem. Yet money owes everything to man. It is man who discovered metals deep underground, mined and refined them for use as money. It was man who stamped the image of the monarch upon coins. That very act, the 'stamp and seal', reversed the roles of man and money, for now 'Thou art the man': power rests with money rather than man.

Herbert shows us in this short poem the power of extreme greed. In this poem money is personified, as man addresses it directly, accusing it of being the bane – the ruin – of true happiness. It is the 'bane of bliss', appearing 'fresh and fine', but in fact it is 'base and low, poor and dirty'. Yet money owes everything to man.

Themes 

Destructiveness of Greed:

Explore how unchecked avarice can lead to destruction, not only for the individual consumed by greed but also for the community or society.

Loss of Humanity:

Reflect on how excessive desire for wealth or possessions can dehumanize individuals, stripping away empathy and compassion.

Empty Pursuits:

Highlight the hollowness of material pursuits and how the insatiable thirst for more can leave a person feeling unfulfilled and empty.

Corruption and Morality:

Delve into the moral implications of greed, examining how it can corrupt individuals and erode ethical values.

Nature's Balance:

Consider the idea of balance in nature and how greed disrupts that equilibrium, leading to consequences and perhaps even poetic justice.