The Eyes of the Poor
"The Eyes of the Poor" by Charles Pierre Baudelaire is a poem that explores the themes of poverty, inequality, and social injustice. The speaker of the poem describes the eyes of the poor as being "like two wells of tears," filled with sadness and despair. The poem also touches on the idea of the divide between the rich and the poor, and how the latter are often treated unfairly by society. Through his use of imagery and symbolism, Baudelaire highlights the struggles of the working class and the need for social change.
By Charles Pierre Baudelaire · First published 1857 · Genre: Literary Fiction, Social Criticism, Poetry · 757 words
First lines
Ah! you want to know why I hate you to-day It will probably be / less easy for you to understand than for me to explain it to / you; for you are, I think, the most perfect example of feminine / impenetrability that could possibly be found.
We had spent a long day together, and it had seemed to me / short. We had promised one another that we would think the same / thoughts and that our two souls should become one soul; a dream / which is not original, after all, except that, dreamed by all / men, it has been realised by none.
What this Textopian page supports
The Eyes of the Poor is listed on Textopian as a poem by Charles Pierre Baudelaire, dated 1857 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Poem
- Author: Charles Pierre Baudelaire
- Date: 1857 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Literary Fiction, Social Criticism, Poetry, Drama, Philosophical
- Length: 757 words
- Structure: 1 section, 6 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)
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- Work identity for The Eyes of the Poor by Charles Pierre Baudelaire
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
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Similar titles
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Genres
- Literary Fiction — The book deals with social and human conditions portrayed with literary depth and sophistication.
- Social Criticism — Baudelaire critically examines the socio-economic conditions of his time and the plight of the poor within this society.
- Poetry — As a poet, Baudelaire's use of language and metaphor is elevated, and the book is written in a contemplative, lyrical style that is characteristic of poetry.
- Drama — The book features dramatic portrayals of human suffering and social injustice.
Tags
poverty · urban life · social critique · human experience · suffering · inequality · empathy · despair · observation · art · beauty · existentialism