Assisi: Theme; Poverty

Assisi: Theme; Poverty

‘Assisi’: Theme - Poverty

Main Ideas

• The theme of poverty is central to this poem, depicted through the portrayal of the beggar outside the Church of St. Francis of Assisi.
• Norman MacCaig contrasts spiritual and material poverty, questioning the value the church places on each.

Symbolism

• The beggar, deformed and ignored, symbolises neglected humanity.
• St. Francis of Assisi, known for his vow of poverty, is now housed in a grand, well-visited church, illustrating the irony of the church’s wealth vs. the poverty of its namesake.

Imagery

• The vivid description of the beggar’s physical condition – his twisted and misshapen body – reinforces the brutality of extreme poverty.
• The tourists, described as chickens, are oblivious to the beggar’s plight, highlighting society’s greater interest in art, than in human suffering.

Language

• The poet’s use of the word “ruined” to describe the beggar is a powerful metaphor that emphasises the destruction caused by poverty.
• The use of sibilance in “saw the dwarf with his hands on backwards” creates a sound of discomfort, reflecting the theme of poverty.

Context

• MacCaig contrasts the opulence of the church with the beggar’s poverty, illustrating the social inequality inherent in the system.
• The presence of the neglected, impoverished beggar in the shadow of the wealthy church reveals the hypocrisy and lack of charity in organised religion.

Summary

• In ‘Assisi’, MacCaig uses vivid imagery, emotive language, and stark contrasts to explore the theme of poverty. Through his portrayal of the beggar and the indifferent tourists, the poet exposes societal indifference towards poverty, and critiques the church’s lack of response to it.