Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

The poem "On Some Lines of Lope de Vega" by Samuel Johnson presents a short, satirical reflection on human values and emotional priorities. In just four lines, Johnson captures a powerful idea about the nature of human attachments and the questionable values that often underlie them.

The poem starts by considering a man who sells turnips and then asks whether this man would cry at the death of his father. The implication here is that if the man is more emotionally affected by the selling of his turnips than by the loss of a parent, then his values are skewed-he would "rather / Have a turnip than his father."

Johnson's poem is a biting critique of materialism and misplaced priorities. While turnips in this context could represent any worldly or material good, the poem raises questions about the commodification of emotions and relationships. In just a few words, Johnson raises ethical and existential queries: what really matters in life? And how does one weigh the emotional significance of familial ties against the often ephemeral gains of commerce?

The poem could also be seen as a jab at the superficial nature of societal norms and behaviors. Why do we often portray emotions or reactions that are socially expected of us, rather than those that genuinely matter? In the case of the turnip vendor, the social expectation would undoubtedly be sorrow at the passing of a parent. If he does not meet this expectation, he becomes an object of ridicule or moral scrutiny.

The poem's historical and cultural context adds further layers to its meaning. Samuel Johnson, an 18th-century English writer and moralist, often tackled questions of ethics, human nature, and societal values in his work. In this poem, Johnson takes a somewhat cynical view of human priorities, offering an observation that could be applicable to any period, including our own times of consumerism and social media where personal relationships are often compromised for material or superficial gains.

Interestingly, Johnson cites this as "On Some Lines of Lope de Vega," referring to the Spanish playwright and poet of the Golden Age of Spanish literature. This nod to Lope de Vega could be an attempt to universalize the sentiment, suggesting that the issue of misplaced priorities is not bound by time or geography but is a more general human folly.

While the poem might seem trivial or even humorous at first glance, it touches upon fundamental issues that have occupied moral philosophy and ethical discussions for centuries. Johnson achieves a lot with very little, using simplicity as a tool for provoking thought. In its brevity, the poem encapsulates a poignant observation on human folly, making us question the depth and sincerity of our own emotions and priorities.

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