“Pity The Nation” by Lawrence Ferlinghetti: A Critical Analysis

Introduction: “Pity The Nation” by Lawrence Ferlinghetti: A Critical Analysis

“Pity The Nation” by Lawrence Ferlinghetti: A Critical Analysis first appeared in 2007 as part of his collection Poetry as Insurgent Art. This poem, inspired by Khalil Gibran’s earlier work, critiques societal decay, political corruption, and cultural apathy, reflecting Ferlinghetti’s lifelong commitment to progressive ideals. Its powerful imagery and poignant commentary on nationalism, materialism, and the erosion of democratic values resonate deeply, especially during periods of political turbulence. The poem’s popularity stems from its universal themes, lyrical intensity, and Ferlinghetti’s status as a prominent voice of the Beat Generation, whose works continue to inspire resistance and critical thought.

Text: “Pity The Nation” by Lawrence Ferlinghetti: A Critical Analysis

(Inspired by Kahlil Gibran)

Pity the nation whose people are sheep
And whose shepherds mislead them
Pity the nation whose leaders are liars
Whose sages are silenced
and whose bigots haunt the airways
Pity the nation that raises not its voice
but aims to rule the world
by force and by torture
And knows
No other language but its own
Pity the nation whose breath is money
and sleeps the sleep of the too well fed
Pity the nation Oh pity the people of my country
My country, tears of thee
Sweet land of liberty!

Annotations: “Pity The Nation” by Lawrence Ferlinghetti

Line	Annotation
Pity the nation whose people are sheep	Critiques a populace that blindly follows authority, likening them to sheep who lack individual agency or critical thought.
And whose shepherds mislead them	Refers to leaders (shepherds) who manipulate or deceive their people, leading them astray from truth and justice.
Pity the nation whose leaders are liars	Denounces political dishonesty, emphasizing the moral corruption at the helm of governance.
Whose sages are silenced	Laments the suppression of intellectuals and wise voices who could otherwise guide society towards enlightenment.
and whose bigots haunt the airways	Highlights the pervasive influence of hate speech and prejudice, particularly spread through mass media channels.
Pity the nation that raises not its voice	Criticizes societal apathy and the failure of citizens to stand up against injustices or abuses of power.
but aims to rule the world	Condemns imperialist ambitions and the hubris of nations seeking global dominance without moral consideration.
by force and by torture	Points to the violent methods often used in pursuit of power, such as war, coercion, and human rights abuses.
And knows No other language but its own	Reflects on cultural insularity, criticizing a nation’s unwillingness to embrace or understand global diversity.
Pity the nation whose breath is money	Denounces materialism and greed, where economic interests supersede human values and ethics.
and sleeps the sleep of the too well fed	Symbolizes complacency and moral stagnation in a society overly satisfied with comfort and excess.
Pity the nation Oh pity the people of my country	Expresses sorrow for the state of the poet’s own country, transitioning from abstract critique to personal lament.
My country, tears of thee	A poignant twist on the patriotic hymn “My Country, ‘Tis of Thee,” evoking sorrow rather than pride for the nation.
Sweet land of liberty!	A sarcastic invocation of the country’s idealized values, highlighting the dissonance between its aspirations and reality.

Literary And Poetic Devices: “Pity The Nation” by Lawrence Ferlinghetti

Literary/Poetic Device	Example	Explanation
Allusion	“My country, tears of thee”	Alludes to the patriotic hymn “My Country, ‘Tis of Thee,” creating irony and sorrowful commentary.
Anaphora	“Pity the nation…” repeated throughout the poem	Repetition of this phrase at the beginning of multiple lines creates rhythm and emphasizes the theme.
Apostrophe	“Oh pity the people of my country”	Directly addresses the nation, invoking a sense of lamentation and urgency.
Assonance	“whose breath is money and sleeps the sleep”	Repetition of the “e” vowel sound adds musicality to the line.
Caesura	“but aims to rule the world / by force and by torture”	A deliberate pause creates tension, highlighting the violent means of domination.
Consonance	“by force and by torture”	The repetition of the “r” sound reinforces the harshness of the imagery.
Ekphrasis	“whose bigots haunt the airways”	Vivid imagery describing societal prejudice, akin to a painting of the cultural decay.
Epistrophe	“whose sages are silenced… whose bigots haunt the airways”	Repetition of “whose” at the end of phrases ties the lines together.
Hyperbole	“knows No other language but its own”	Exaggerates cultural insularity to critique ethnocentrism and arrogance.
Imagery	“sleeps the sleep of the too well fed”	Evokes a vivid picture of complacency and moral stagnation.
Irony	“Sweet land of liberty!”	Sarcastically contrasts the nation’s ideals with its realities.
Metaphor	“whose breath is money”	Equates money to the lifeblood of a nation, critiquing materialism and greed.
Paradox	“that raises not its voice but aims to rule the world”	Contrasts silence with global domination, highlighting the moral contradiction.
Personification	“whose bigots haunt the airways”	Attributing human qualities (haunting) to bigotry amplifies its pervasive nature.
Refrain	“Pity the nation…” repeated throughout the poem	The recurring phrase reinforces the central lamentation and critique.
Satire	“Pity the nation whose leaders are liars”	Uses humor and irony to mock and critique the nation’s political failings.
Symbolism	“Sweet land of liberty!”	Symbolizes the ideals of freedom and democracy that the poet argues have been corrupted.
Tone	Lamenting and critical	The tone is sorrowful and scathing, reflecting the poet’s frustration with societal issues.
Wordplay	“My country, tears of thee”	A pun on “My country, ’tis of thee,” replacing “tis” with “tears” to shift the meaning.

Themes: “Pity The Nation” by Lawrence Ferlinghetti

• Corruption and Misguidance in Leadership: Ferlinghetti criticizes the pervasive dishonesty and incompetence of leaders in “Pity The Nation”. Lines such as “Pity the nation whose leaders are liars” and “whose shepherds mislead them” depict a society where authority figures betray their responsibility, manipulating and deceiving the public. The metaphor of “shepherds” evokes a sense of betrayal, as leaders—expected to guide—are shown leading their people astray. This theme underscores the poet’s disillusionment with political systems that exploit rather than serve.
• Social Complacency and Apathy: The poem condemns societal indifference through lines like “Pity the nation that raises not its voice” and “sleeps the sleep of the too well fed”. Ferlinghetti portrays a populace numbed by comfort and excess, unwilling to challenge injustices or fight for change. This theme highlights the dangers of apathy, illustrating how a lack of civic engagement allows systemic corruption to persist and erodes the very foundations of democracy.
• Materialism and Cultural Decay: In “whose breath is money”, Ferlinghetti critiques the greed and materialism that dominate societal values. He links the pursuit of wealth to the moral and cultural degradation of the nation, emphasizing how economic priorities have overshadowed ethical considerations. This theme resonates with the poet’s broader critique of capitalism and consumerism, suggesting that a society driven by money ultimately loses its humanity and identity.
• Loss of Democratic Ideals: The juxtaposition of patriotic symbols with stark critiques, such as “My country, tears of thee” and “Sweet land of liberty!”, underscores the erosion of democratic values. Ferlinghetti mourns the dissonance between the nation’s ideals and its reality, particularly its imperialist ambitions (“aims to rule the world by force and by torture”). This theme captures the poet’s sorrow over the failure of his country to uphold its foundational principles of liberty and justice for all.

Literary Theories and “Pity The Nation” by Lawrence Ferlinghetti

Literary Theory	Application to the Poem	References from the Poem
Marxist Criticism	Examines how economic systems and material conditions shape society, culture, and individual values.	“Whose breath is money” critiques capitalism and materialism, highlighting the corrupting influence of wealth.
Postcolonial Theory	Explores themes of imperialism, cultural dominance, and the marginalization of “the Other.”	“aims to rule the world by force and by torture” reflects critiques of imperialist ambitions and cultural insularity (“knows no other language but its own”).
New Historicism	Considers the historical and cultural context of the text, interpreting its reflection of societal issues during its time.	“Pity the nation whose leaders are liars” can be connected to the political and social climate of the 21st century, particularly post-9/11 tensions and criticisms of governance.

Critical Questions about “Pity The Nation” by Lawrence Ferlinghetti

Literary Works Similar to “Pity The Nation” by Lawrence Ferlinghetti

1. “The Second Coming” by W.B. Yeats
   Similarity: Both poems critique societal decay and forewarn of moral and political chaos, using vivid imagery and prophetic tones.
2. “Let America Be America Again” by Langston Hughes
   Similarity: Like Ferlinghetti’s poem, this work mourns the disparity between America’s ideals and its reality, emphasizing themes of inequality and lost hope.
3. “Dulce et Decorum Est” by Wilfred Owen
   Similarity: Both poems expose the harsh truths behind glorified nationalistic ideals, particularly criticizing the consequences of war and violence.
4. “Howl” by Allen Ginsberg
   Similarity: A Beat Generation classic, like Ferlinghetti’s poem, it critiques societal corruption, materialism, and the suppression of individuality with raw emotional power.
5. “September 1, 1939” by W.H. Auden
   Similarity: This poem shares Ferlinghetti’s lament for societal and political failures, using a reflective tone to critique leadership and moral decay.

Representative Quotations of “Pity The Nation” by Lawrence Ferlinghetti

Quotation	Context	Theoretical Perspective
“Pity the nation whose people are sheep”	Criticizes societal complacency and blind obedience to authority.	Marxist Criticism: Examines the passivity of the working class under oppressive systems.
“Whose shepherds mislead them”	Highlights the failure of leaders to guide their people ethically.	Poststructuralism: Deconstructs power structures and the manipulation of truth by authority.
“Pity the nation whose leaders are liars”	Denounces political dishonesty and corruption.	New Historicism: Reflects disillusionment with contemporary political regimes.
“Whose sages are silenced”	Laments the suppression of intellectuals and dissenting voices.	Postmodernism: Explores the erasure of critical voices in a controlled, conformist society.
“Whose bigots haunt the airways”	Critiques the pervasive spread of prejudice and hate through media.	Cultural Criticism: Analyzes media’s role in perpetuating stereotypes and divisions.
“Pity the nation that raises not its voice”	Condemns societal apathy and the reluctance to challenge injustices.	Existentialism: Highlights the individual’s failure to assert moral responsibility.
“And knows no other language but its own”	Critiques cultural and linguistic insularity, suggesting a refusal to engage with diversity.	Postcolonial Theory: Examines the implications of ethnocentrism and imperial dominance.
“Whose breath is money”	Denounces materialism and greed as the driving forces of society.	Marxist Criticism: Critiques capitalist ideology and its impact on human values.
“My country, tears of thee”	Expresses sorrow for the decline of the nation’s ideals, a play on the patriotic hymn.	New Criticism: Analyzes the irony and emotional resonance within the text itself.
“Sweet land of liberty!”	Uses sarcasm to highlight the contrast between the nation’s ideals and its harsh realities.	Irony in Rhetoric: Challenges the romanticized vision of democracy with biting critique.

Suggested Readings: “Pity The Nation” by Lawrence Ferlinghetti

1. BURNSIDE, JOHN. “WHERE TURTLES WIN.” The Music of Time: Poetry in the Twentieth Century, Princeton University Press, 2020, pp. 275–92. JSTOR, https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctvp2n52z.18. Accessed 23 Nov. 2024.
2. Ferlinghetti, Lawrence, and James B. Young. “Pity the Nation (After Khalil Gibran).” Methodist Debakey Cardiovascular Journal 17.2 (2021): 162.
3. Ping, Wang. “Pity the Nation.” World Literature Today, vol. 93, no. 4, 2019, pp. 73–73. JSTOR, https://doi.org/10.7588/worllitetoda.93.4.0073. Accessed 23 Nov. 2024.