# Money and Materialism in Poetry

> Theme guide for Poetry by Ring Lardner.

The tension between spending and saving, the value of a dollar, and the material concerns of daily life are recurring themes, exemplified by the poem 'Goodbye Bill' and the many limericks about business.

## Where it surfaces

- [Heine's Soliloquy](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_19_se/chapters/heine-s-soliloquy): The central theme of the soliloquy: the speaker's fear of losing money ('dough') and material goods ('togs') overrides his desire to protest injustice, illustrating how financial concerns can suppress personal integrity.
- [Baseball—A Sport](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_19_se/chapters/baseball-a-sport): The poem critiques the greed of players and magnates, suggesting that financial motives corrupt the purity of the sport.
- [Goodbye Bill](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_19_se/chapters/goodbye-bill): The dollar bill is central to the poem, representing the tension between personal desire and family obligation.
- [His Imagination](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_19_se/chapters/his-imagination): The father notes that imagination requires no money, unlike adult pursuits tied to salary and material goods.
- [The Eternal Greeting](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_19_se/chapters/the-eternal-greeting): The child's repeated demand for presents underscores the role of material gifts in expressing love and securing joy.
- [F. Y. Coffin](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_19_se/chapters/f-y-coffin): The verse implies that financial protection (insurance) can mitigate the impact of death, reflecting a materialistic view of life's ultimate concerns.
- [Frederick D. Countiss](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_19_se/chapters/frederick-d-countiss): The limerick contrasts wealth ('jack') with charitable giving, highlighting a tension between financial prudence and generosity.
- [Thos. Cusack](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_19_se/chapters/thos-cusack): The line 'If you can afford to pay for your board' ties belief in signs to financial means.
- [John H. Kirby](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_19_se/chapters/john-h-kirby): The limerick focuses on financial loss and recovery, highlighting the theme of wealth and risk.
- [David R. Lewis](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_19_se/chapters/david-r-lewis): The limerick humorously critiques the banker's selective lending, emphasizing financial prudence and the value of money.
- [C. R. McKay](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_19_se/chapters/c-r-mckay): The poem contrasts the 'dandy posish' of a bank governor with a place where one needn't 'always think dollars,' highlighting the tension between financial duty and freedom from materialism.
- [Amos C. Miller](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_19_se/chapters/amos-c-miller): The poem emphasizes financial gain and winning, with references to betting and raking in money.
- [Waller Morton](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_19_se/chapters/waller-morton): Waller Morton's respect for the dollar highlights the theme of financial pragmatism in times of inflation.
- [G. E. Muehleback](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_19_se/chapters/g-e-muehleback): The subject is identified as a 'Capitalist,' linking wealth to his emotional state and the city's reaction.
- [Senator John F. Overfield](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_19_se/chapters/senator-john-f-overfield): The poem emphasizes Overfield's vast wealth from oil and shale, portraying a life free from labor.
- [Frank L. Poth](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_19_se/chapters/frank-l-poth): The poem highlights Frank L. Poth's identity as a capitalist and the invitation to spend money in the West.
- [F. H. Rawson](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_19_se/chapters/f-h-rawson): The verse centers on financial accountability and the tension between a client's records and a banker's statements.
- [George W. Reed](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_19_se/chapters/george-w-reed): Focuses on the struggle to afford essential coal, contrasting with the apparent ease of those in power.
- [Wallace N. Robinson](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_19_se/chapters/wallace-n-robinson): The poem references giving away dollars, highlighting a casual attitude toward money.
- [James F. Stepina](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_19_se/chapters/james-f-stepina): The poem highlights the power of wealth to rescue a community in crisis.
- [J. M. Sullivan](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_19_se/chapters/j-m-sullivan): The limerick contrasts Sullivan's initial lack of recognition by bankers with his eventual financial success ('roll of his own').
- [Max Thorek](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_19_se/chapters/max-thorek): The verse highlights financial inequality and the cost of entertainment versus medical expenses.
- [Phil. R. Toll](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_19_se/chapters/phil-r-toll): The chapter highlights material wealth and status through the listing of multiple luxury cars owned by Phil. R. Toll.
- [John Wagner](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_19_se/chapters/john-wagner): The central question is whether clean boxing pays, with the answer implied by Wagner's impoverished state.
- [John N. Weinand](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_19_se/chapters/john-n-weinand): Emphasizes the virtue of paying cash and avoiding speculation, contrasting sound financial practice with reckless gambling.
- [Charles A. White](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_19_se/chapters/charles-a-white): The poem highlights trust in financial integrity, contrasting honesty with the temptation of theft.
- [Fred H. Wickett](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_19_se/chapters/fred-h-wickett): The poem centers on the regret of missing a financial opportunity, highlighting the allure of wealth through oil investments.
- [An Irish Love Lyric](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_19_se/chapters/an-irish-love-lyric): The opening line directly references needing money to spend, highlighting a past preoccupation with material indulgence.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_19_se/themes/money_and_materialism
- Themes index: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_19_se/themes