Poetry · Chapter
XVI: The Rev. Joseph Hemphill explained
The Rev.
What happens
The Rev. Joseph Hemphill, who preached that he could heal sickness through prayer and commanding, ironically fell ill himself. Despite calling for four reputable physicians, he secretly prayed, drawing God's attention and resulting in his death.
Free preview opens on this chapter — companions, themes, and character notes appear beside the text.
Narrative arc
Story tension across the book.
- Setup
- Escalation
- Breaking point
- Aftermath
- Closing
The emotional and psychological peak occurs when the speaker’s obsessive pursuit of the divine rose fragrance…
Full beat labels and climax notes unlock in the reader.
Follow the arc while readingThemes in this chapter
- Hypocrisy and Corruption
Hemphill's public reliance on prayer for healing contrasts with his private summoning of physicians, revealing hypocrisy.
- Mortality and Regret
Hemphill's attempt to control his fate through prayer ironically leads to his death, highlighting mortality's inevitability.
Characters to notice
- Unknown
The narrator recounts the ironic tale of Rev. Joseph Hemphill.
Key passages
“He preached that sickness he could floor By prayer and by commanding; When sick himself he sent for four Physicians in good standing.”
He claimed he could defeat illness through prayer and commands, but when he fell ill, he called for four reputable doctors.
Highlights the contradiction between Hemphill's public claims and private actions.
“He was struck dead despite their care, For, fearing their dissension, He secretly put up a prayer, Thus drawing God’s attention.”
Despite the doctors' efforts, he died because he secretly prayed, fearing disagreement among them, which drew God's notice and caused his death.
The ironic twist: his secret prayer, meant to ensure harmony, inadvertently causes his demise.
