Adams is one of the lesser known American modern poets. His poems, like the poems of many other 20th century American poets, comment the society after the industrial revolution. Adams poem, The Rich Man, concentrates on the class division between the rich and the poor. Furthermore it satirizes the old view of an impecunious life being the good and the virtuous one. The two first stanzas of the poem are description about the rich man. The fact that he is called the rich man hints that the speaker him/herself is poor. The first stanza concentrates on describing the rich mans belongings. The first thing the reader finds out the rich man has is a motor-car, nowadays simply a car. In the beginning of the 20th century, when this poem was written, cars were very expensive and only the rich could afford them. His two houses, one in the country and one in the city, and the fact that he is smoking a cigar which costs as much as a good meal furthermore accentuate his richness.The second stanza concentrates on the ease of life the rich man is experiencing. He doesnt have to struggle or even work to stay alive (He frivols through the livelong day). He is described as someone who has been born rich and who hasnt had the displeasure of meeting Poverty. The third line of the second stanza seems to suggest that he is happy: His lot seems light, his heart seems gay. At the latest here starts the reader to suspect whether the rich man is really happy behind all his wealth. Is there possibly a shadow behind what only seems to be light and what seems to be gay? It reminds the reader of the old saying that money doesnt bring happiness. The reader might even remember John Bartletts words The love of money is the root of all evil.The third stanza continues to develop the theme of the possible darkness in the rich mans life. It begins with a rhetorical question asked by the poor man:Yet though my lamp burns low dim,Though I must slave for livelihoodThink yo...
