This passage includes the last three stanzas of the poem, where the speaker proclaims he will become “statesman-like” for libertines, encouraging them to act lewd when he can no longer perform. This passage occurs after the speaker has described libertine acts as a naval warfare through word choice and imagery. He plans to encourage others to perform debaucherous acts through the tales of his own influential sexual experiences. B) Interpret the passage.
Throughout this passage the speaker of the poem, a roué, encourages others to act in a libertine manner through his martial word choice, detailed imagery, and heroic stanza pattern. In the first stanza of this passage, the speaker shares a personal …show more content…
By setting fire to the old church, the libertines had a chance to perform sensual acts without judgment from the religious church people. The able will also not fear “lewdness,” lustful acts, that are influenced by “wine,” being drunk. (44) The speaker states he will act “statesman-like” (45), by voicing his opinions and personal experiences for others to act in ways that he used to and no longer can. The speaker is statesman-like because although he is not an experienced politician, he is an experienced libertine. The speaker, a libertine, explains what he will do …show more content…
Libertines were active men, in most cases, who were dominant and self-centered. The detailed imagery, word choice, and heroic stanza of the satire are significant for John Wilmot’s overall message. The word choice and imagery of the poem compares debaucherous acts to a naval military battle. In addition, the heroic stanza pattern of this unheroic debaucherous poem mocks society’s idea of conventional heroic attitudes and