“The Vanity of Human Wishes” by Samuel Johnson: A Critical Analysis

Introduction: “The Vanity of Human Wishes” by Samuel Johnson

“The Vanity of Human Wishes” by Samuel Johnson first appeared in 1749, as part of his poetic endeavors, published independently. Inspired by Juvenal’s Tenth Satire, this masterful poem explores the universal follies of human ambition and the transient nature of worldly desires. Johnson employs sharp observation and philosophical depth, opening with the grand lines, “Let observation with extensive view, / Survey mankind, from China to Peru.” The poem critiques humanity’s relentless pursuit of wealth, power, and beauty, which often leads to ruin rather than fulfillment, as captured in lines like, “Wealth heap’d on wealth, nor truth nor safety buys, / The dangers gather as the treasures rise.” Its popularity as a textbook poem stems from its moral gravitas, vivid imagery, and timeless relevance, making it a critical reflection on human frailty and the need for divine guidance. Through compelling examples such as Wolsey’s fall from grandeur and the doomed ambitions of Charles XII, the poem underscores the futility of earthly pursuits and champions faith, virtue, and acceptance of divine will. Its enduring resonance lies in its blend of biting satire and profound wisdom, offering solace through its concluding message of spiritual contentment: “Pour forth thy fervors for a healthful mind, / Obedient passions, and a will resign’d.”

Text: “The Vanity of Human Wishes” by Samuel Johnson

In Imitation of the Tenth Satire of Juvenal

Let observation with extensive view, 
Survey mankind, from China to Peru; 
Remark each anxious toil, each eager strife, 
And watch the busy scenes of crowded life; 
Then say how hope and fear, desire and hate, 
O’erspread with snares the clouded maze of fate, 
Where wav’ring man, betray’d by vent’rous pride, 
To tread the dreary paths without a guide, 
As treach’rous phantoms in the mist delude, 
Shuns fancied ills, or chases airy good. 
How rarely reason guides the stubborn choice, 
Rules the bold hand, or prompts the suppliant voice, 
How nations sink, by darling schemes oppress’d, 
When vengeance listens to the fool’s request. 
Fate wings with ev’ry wish th’ afflictive dart, 
Each gift of nature, and each grace of art, 
With fatal heat impetuous courage glows, 
With fatal sweetness elocution flows, 
Impeachment stops the speaker’s pow’rful breath, 
And restless fire precipitates on death. 
 But scarce observ’d, the knowing and the bold, 
Fall in the gen’ral massacre of gold; 
Wide-wasting pest! that rages unconfin’d, 
And crowds with crimes the records of mankind;
For gold his sword the hireling ruffian draws, 
For gold the hireling judge distorts the laws; 
Wealth heap’d on wealth, nor truth nor safety buys, 
The dangers gather as the treasures rise. 
Let hist’ry tell where rival kings command, 
And dubious title shakes the madded land, 
When statutes glean the refuse of the sword, 
How much more safe the vassal than the lord:
Low sculks the hind beneath the rage of pow’r, 
And leaves the wealthy traitor in the Tow’r, 
Untouch’d his cottage, and his slumbers sound, 
Tho’ confiscation’s vultures hover round. 
 The needy traveller, serene and gay, 
Walks the wild heath, and sings his toil away. 
Does envy seize thee? crush th’ upbraiding joy, 
Increase his riches and his peace destroy, 
New fears in dire vicissitude invade, 
The rustling brake alarms, and quiv’ring shade, 
Nor light nor darkness bring his pain relief. 
One shews the plunder, and one hides the thief. 
Yet still one gen’ral cry the skies assails, 
And gain and grandeur load the tainted gales, 
Few know the toiling statesman’s fear or care, 
Th’ insidious rival and the gaping heir. 
 Once more, Democritus, arise on earth, 
With cheerful wisdom and instructive mirth, 
See motley life in modern trappings dress’d, 
And feed with varied fools th’ eternal jest: 
Thou who couldst laugh where want enchain’d caprice, 
Toil crush’d conceit, and man was of a piece; 
Where wealth unlov’d without a mourner died; 
And scarce a sycophant was fed by pride; 
Where ne’er was known the form of mock debate, 
Or seen a new-made mayor’s unwieldy state; 
Where change of fav’rites made no change of laws, 
And senates heard before they judg’d a cause; 
How wouldst thou shake at Britain’s modish tribe, 
Dart the quick taunt, and edge the piercing gibe? 
Attentive truth and nature to descry, 
And pierce each scene with philosophic eye. 
To thee were solemn toys or empty show, 
The robes of pleasure and the veils of woe: 
All aid the farce, and all thy mirth maintain, 
Whose joys are causeless, or whose griefs are vain. 
 Such was the scorn that fill’d the sage’s mind, 
Renew’d at ev’ry glance on humankind; 
How just that scorn ere yet thy voice declare, 
Search every state, and canvas ev’ry pray’r. 
 Unnumber’d suppliants crowd Preferment’s gate, 
Athirst for wealth, and burning to be great; 
Delusive Fortune hears the incessant call, 
They mount, they shine, evaporate, and fall. 
On ev’ry stage the foes of peace attend, 
Hate dogs their flight, and insult mocks their end. 
Love ends with hope, the sinking statesman’s door 
Pours in the morning worshiper no more; 
For growing names the weekly scribbler lies, 
To growing wealth the dedicator flies, 
From every room descends the painted face, 
That hung the bright palladium of the place, 
And smok’d in kitchens or in auctions sold, 
To better features yields the frame of gold; 
For now no more we trace in ev’ry line,
Heroic worth, benevolence divine: 
The form distorted justifies the fall, 
And detestation rids th’ indignant wall. 
    But will not Britain hear the last appeal,
Sign her foes doom, or guard her fav’rites’ zeal?
Through freedom’s sons no more remonstrance rings,
Degrading nobles, and controlling kings;
Our supple tribes repress their patriot throats,
And ask no question but the price of votes;
With weekly libels and septennial ale,
Their wish is full to riot and to rail
 In full-blown dignity see Wolsey stand,
Law in his voice, and fortune in his hand;
To him the church, the realm, their powers consign,
Through him the rays of regal bounty shine;
Turn’d by his nod the stream of honour flows,
His smile alone security bestows:
Still to new heights his restless wishes tour;
Claim leads to claim, and pow’r advances pow’r;
Till conquest unresisted ceas’d to please,
And rights submitted, left him none to seize.
At length his sov’reign frowns—the train of state
Mark the keen glance, and watch the sign to hate;
Where’er he turns he meets a stranger’s eye,
His suppliants scorn him, and his followers fly;
Now drops at once the pride of awful state,
The golden canopy, the glitt’ring plate,
The regal palace, the luxurious board,
The liv’ried army, and the menial lord.
With age, with cares, with maladies oppress’d,
He seeks the refuge of monastic rest.
Grief aids disease, remember’d folly stings,
And his last sighs reproach the faith of kings.
Speak thou, whose thoughts at humble peace repine,
Shall Wolsey’s wealth, with Wolsey’s end, be thine?
Or liv’st thou now, with safer pride content,
The wisest justice on the banks of Trent?
For why did Wolsey, near the steeps of fate,
On weak foundations raise th’ enormous weight?
Why but to sink beneath misfortune’s blow
With louder ruin to the gulphs below?
What gave great Villiers to the assassin’s knife,
And fix’d disease on Harley’s closing life?
What murder’d Wentworth, and what exil’d Hyde,
By kings protected, and to kings ally’d?
What but their wish indulg’d, in courts to shine,
And pow’r too great to keep or to resign?
 When first the college rolls receive his name, 
The young enthusiast quits his ease for fame; 
Resistless burns the fever of renown,
Caught from the strong contagion of the gown:
O’er Bodley’s dome his future labours spread, 
And Bacon’s mansion trembles o’er his head. 
Are these thy views? proceed, illustrious youth, 
And virtue guard thee to the throne of Truth! 
Yet should thy soul indulge the gen’rous heat, 
Till captive Science yields her last retreat; 
Should Reason guide thee with her brightest ray,
And pour on misty doubt resistless day; 
Should no false kindness lure to loose delight, 
Nor praise relax, nor difficulty fright; 
Should tempting novelty thy cell refrain, 
And sloth effuse her opiate fumes in vain; 
Should beauty blunt on fops her fatal dart, 
Nor claim the triumph of a letter’d heart; 
Should no disease thy torpid veins invade, 
Nor melancholy’s phantoms haunt thy shade; 
Yet hope not life from grief or danger free, 
Nor think the doom of man revers’d for thee: 
Deign on the passing world to turn thine eyes, 
And pause awhile from learning, to be wise; 
There mark what ills the scholar’s life assail, 
Toil, envy, want, the patron, and the jail. 
See nations slowly wise, and meanly just, 
To buried merit raise the tardy bust. 
If dreams yet flatter, once again attend, 
Hear Lydiat’s life, and Galileo’s end. 
 Nor deem, when learning her last prize bestows 
The glitt’ring eminence exempt from foes; 
See when the vulgar ‘scapes despis’d or aw’d, 
Rebellion’s vengeful talons seize on Laud. 
From meaner minds, though smaller fines content,
The plunder’d palace, or sequester’d rent; 
Mark’d out by dangerous parts he meets the shock, 
And fatal learning leads him to the block: 
Around his tomb let art and genius weep, 
But hear his death, ye blockheads, hear and sleep. 
    The festal blazes, the triumphal show,
The ravish’d standard, and the captive foe,
The senate’s thanks, the Gazette’s pompous tale,
With force resistless o’er the brave prevail.
Such bribes the rapid Greek o’er Asia whirl’d,
For such the steady Romans shook the world;
For such in distant lands the Britons shine,
And stain with blood the Danube or the Rhine;
This power has praise, that virtue scarce can warm,
Till fame supplies the universal charm.
Yet reason frowns on war’s unequal game,
Where wasted nation’s raise a single name,
And mortgag’d states their grandsire’s wreaths regret,
From age to age in everlasting debt;
Wreaths which at last the dear-bought right convey,
To rust on medals, or on stones decay.
    On what foundation stands the warrior’s pride,
How just his hopes, let Swedish Charles decide;
A frame of adamant, a soul of fire,
No dangers fright him, and no labours tire;
O’er love, o’er fear, extends his wide domain,
Unconquer’d lord of pleasure and of pain;
No joys to him pacific scepters yield,
War sounds the trump, he rushes to the field;
Behold surrounding kings their power combine,
And one capitulate, and one resign;
Peace courts his hand, but spreads her charms in vain;
“Think nothing gain’d,” he cries, “till nought remain,
“On Muscow’s walls till Gothic standards fly,
“And all be mine beneath the polar sky.”
The march begins in military state,
And nations on his eye suspended wait;
Stern famine guards the solitary coast,
And winter barricades the realms of frost;
He comes, nor want nor cold his course delay;
Hide, blushing glory, hide Pultowa’s day:
The vanquish’d hero leaves his broken bands,
And shews his miseries in distant lands;
Condemn’d a needy supplicant to wait,
While ladies interpose, and slaves debate.
But did not chance at length her error mend?
Did no subverted empire mark his end?
Did rival monarchs give the fatal wound?
Or hostile millions press him to the ground?
His fall was destin’d to a barren strand,
A petty fortress, and a dubious hand;
He left the name at which the world grew pale,
To point a moral, or adorn a tale.
    All times their scenes of pompous woes afford,
From Persia’s tyrant to Bavaria’s lord,
In gay hostility, and barb’rous pride,
With half mankind embattled at his side,
Great Xerxes comes to seize the certain prey,
And starves exhausted regions in his way;
Attendant flattery counts his myriads o’er,
Till counted myriads sooth his pride no more;
Fresh praise is try’d, till madness fires his mind,
The waves he lashes, and enchains the wind;
New pow’rs are claim’d, new pow’rs are still bestow’d,
Till rude resistance lops the spreading god;
The daring Greeks deride the marital show,
And heap their valleys with the gaudy foe;
Th’ insulted sea with humbler thoughts he gains,
A single skiff to speed his flight remains:
Th’ encumber’d oar scarce leaves the dreaded coast
Through purple billows and a floating host.
   The bold Bavarian, in a luckless hour,
Tries the dread summits of Caesarean power,
With unexpected legions bursts away,
And sees defenceless realms receive his sway;
Short sway! fair Austria spreads her mournful charms,
The queen, the beauty, sets the world in arms;
From hill to hill the beacon’s rousing blaze
Spreads wide the hope of plunder and of praise.
The fierce Croatian, and the wild Hussar,
With all the sons of ravage crowd the war;
The baffled prince in honour’s flattering bloom
Of hasty greatness finds the fatal doom;
His foes’ derision, and his subjects’ blame,
And steals to death from anguish and from shame.
 Enlarge my life with multitude of days, 
In health, in sickness, thus the suppliant prays; 
Hides from himself his state, and shuns to know
That life protracted is protracted woe. 
Time hovers o’er, impatient to destroy, 
And shuts up all the passages of joy: 
In vain their gifts the bounteous seasons pour, 
The fruit autumnal, and the vernal flower, 
With listless eyes the dotard views the store, 
He views, and wonders that they please no more; 
Now pall the tasteless meats, and joyless wines, 
And luxury with sighs her slave resigns. 
Approach, ye minstrels, try the soothing strain, 
And yield the tuneful lenitives of pain: 
No sounds, alas! would touch th’ impervious ear, 
Though dancing mountains witness’d Orpheus near; 
Nor lute nor lyre his feeble pow’rs attend, 
Nor sweeter music of a virtuous friend, 
But everlasting dictates crowd his tongue, 
Perversely grave, or positively wrong. 
The still returning tale, and ling’ring jest, 
Perplex the fawning niece and pamper’d guest;
While growing hopes scarce awe the gathering sneer, 
And scarce a legacy can bribe to hear; 
The watchful guests still hint the last offence, 
The daughter’s petulance, the son’s expence, 
Improve his heady rage with treach’rous skill, 
And mould his passions till they make his will. 
 Unnumber’d maladies his joints invade, 
Lay siege to life and press the dire blockade; 
But unextinguish’d Av’rice still remains, 
And dreaded losses aggravate his pains; 
He turns, with anxious heart and crippled hands, 
His bonds of debt, and mortgages of lands; 
Or views his coffers with suspicious eyes, 
Unlocks his gold, and counts it till he dies. 
 But grant, the virtues of a temp’rate prime 
Bless with an age exempt from scorn or crime; 
An age that melts with unperceiv’d decay, 
And glides in modest innocence away; 
Whose peaceful day benevolence endears, 
Whose night congratulating conscience cheers; 
The gen’ral fav’rite as the gen’ral friend: 
Such age there is, and who could wish its end? 
 Yet ev’n on this her load misfortune flings, 
To press the weary minutes’ flagging wings: 
New sorrow rises as the day returns, 
A sister sickens, or a daughter mourns. 
Now kindred merit fills the sable bier, 
Now lacerated friendship claims a tear. 
Year chases year, decay pursues decay, 
Still drops some joy from with’ring life away; 
New forms arise, and diff’rent views engage, 
Superfluous lags the vet’ran on the stage, 
Till pitying nature signs the last release, 
And bids afflicted worth retire to peace. 
 But few there are whom hours like these await, 
Who set unclouded in the gulfs of fate. 
From Lydia’s monarch should the search descend, 
By Solon caution’d to regard his end, 
In life’s last scene what prodigies surprise, 
Fears of the brave, and follies of the wise? 
From Marlb’rough’s eyes the streams of dotage flow, 
And Swift expires a driv’ler and a show. 
 The teeming mother, anxious for her race, 
Begs for each birth the fortune of a face: 
Yet Vane could tell what ills from beauty spring; 
And Sedley curs’d the form that pleas’d a king. 
Ye nymphs of rosy lips and radiant eyes, 
Whom Pleasure keeps too busy to be wise, 
Whom Joys with soft varieties invite, 
By day the frolic, and the dance by night, 
Who frown with vanity, who smile with art, 
And ask the latest fashion of the heart, 
What care, what rules your heedless charms shall save, 
Each nymph your rival, and each youth your slave? 
Against your fame with fondness hate combines, 
The rival batters, and the lover mines. 
With distant voice neglected virtue calls, 
Less heard and less, the faint remonstrance falls; 
Tir’d with contempt, she quits the slipp’ry reign, 
And pride and prudence take her seat in vain. 
In crowd at once, where none the pass defend, 
The harmless freedom, and the private friend. 
The guardians yield, by force superior plied; 
To int’rest, prudence; and by flatt’ry, pride. 
Here beauty falls betray’d, despis’d, distress’d, 
And hissing infamy proclaims the rest. 
 Where then shall hope and fear their objects find? 
Must dull suspense corrupt the stagnant mind? 
Must helpless man, in ignorance sedate, 
Roll darkling down the torrent of his fate? 
Must no dislike alarm, no wishes rise, 
No cries attempt the mercies of the skies? 
Inquirer, cease, petitions yet remain, 
Which heaven may hear, nor deem religion vain. 
Still raise for good the supplicating voice, 
But leave to heaven the measure and the choice. 
Safe in his pow’r, whose eyes discern afar 
The secret ambush of a specious pray’r. 
Implore his aid, in his decisions rest, 
Secure whate’er he gives, he gives the best. 
Yet when the sense of sacred presence fires, 
And strong devotion to the skies aspires, 
Pour forth thy fervors for a healthful mind, 
Obedient passions, and a will resign’d; 
For love, which scarce collective man can fill; 
For patience, sov’reign o’er transmuted ill; 
For faith, that panting for a happier seat, 
Counts death kind nature’s signal of retreat: 
These goods for man the laws of heaven ordain, 
These goods he grants, who grants the pow’r to gain; 
With these celestial wisdom calms the mind, 
And makes the happiness she does not find.

Annotations: “The Vanity of Human Wishes” by Samuel Johnson

Lines	Annotation
1-10	Johnson opens the poem with a sweeping survey of humanity’s struggles, spanning “from China to Peru.” He highlights how hope and fear, desire, and hatred entangle people in a web of fate, causing them to chase illusions and avoid imagined dangers. The focus is on the misguided nature of human ambitions.
11-20	The poet observes how rarely reason guides human decisions and laments the ruin caused by impulsive desires. He critiques how nations collapse under ill-conceived plans, driven by vengeance or unchecked ambitions, emphasizing the destructive consequences of wishful thinking.
21-30	Johnson reflects on the double-edged nature of human talents and attributes, suggesting that even virtues like courage and eloquence can lead to downfall if misused. He observes how powerful traits often hasten people’s demise rather than protect them.
31-40	The poet condemns the pervasive greed for gold, describing it as a “wide-wasting pest” that corrupts humanity. Gold drives violence, distorts justice, and increases danger rather than bringing safety or satisfaction, illustrating its corrupting influence.
41-50	Johnson contrasts the fates of the wealthy and the poor, suggesting that the humble, such as the “needy traveller,” often enjoy greater peace than the rich, who are plagued by fear and envy. He critiques the false security associated with wealth and status.
51-60	Introducing the philosopher Democritus, Johnson calls for a detached, mocking view of human folly. He critiques the superficiality of modern life and governance, contrasting it with a bygone era of genuine virtues and simpler societal structures.
61-70	The poet continues to mock the trappings of power and privilege in contemporary Britain, lamenting how human joys and sorrows often arise from trivial or baseless causes. He underscores the futility and absurdity of societal preoccupations.
71-80	Johnson shifts focus to the pursuit of political power, illustrating its instability. He critiques how ambition leads to fleeting success, leaving individuals like fallen statesmen abandoned by allies and scorned by former supporters.
81-90	Using the example of Cardinal Wolsey, Johnson illustrates how unbridled ambition ends in ruin. Wolsey’s rise to power is mirrored by his catastrophic fall, symbolizing the dangers of overreaching ambition and misplaced trust in worldly authority.
91-100	The poet asks rhetorical questions to explore the common fate of historical figures who pursued power or prominence. He emphasizes how their excessive ambition led to assassination, exile, or disgrace, as seen in figures like Villiers and Wentworth.
101-110	Addressing the young scholar, Johnson encourages the pursuit of virtue and truth but warns against excessive ambition and desire for fame. He reminds the reader that the pursuit of knowledge, while noble, does not guarantee freedom from hardship.
111-120	Johnson outlines the hardships of scholarly life, including toil, envy, and financial struggles. He cautions against idealizing the life of learning, using examples of scholars like Galileo to show how even the pursuit of knowledge often leads to suffering.
121-130	The poet critiques the allure of military fame, illustrating its costs with examples from history. He questions the morality and logic of wars fought for personal glory, which often result in immense suffering and long-lasting debt.
131-140	Focusing on Charles XII of Sweden, Johnson critiques the futility of unrelenting ambition. Despite his courage and determination, Charles’s conquests lead to failure and misery, exemplifying the theme of overreaching ambition.
141-150	The downfall of Xerxes, the Persian king, serves as another example of the dangers of unchecked power. Johnson mocks Xerxes’s hubris and his eventual defeat by the Greeks, emphasizing how arrogance leads to ruin.
151-160	The Bavarian prince, another ambitious figure, faces a similarly tragic fate. Johnson critiques the fleeting nature of power and the inevitable downfall of those who overextend their reach, driven by greed or vanity.
161-170	Johnson reflects on the futility of wishing for long life, describing how old age brings more suffering than joy. He portrays the elderly as disconnected from the pleasures of life and burdened by physical and emotional decay.
171-180	The poet explores how old age is plagued by avarice and paranoia. The elderly hoard wealth, obsess over their possessions, and struggle with fears of loss, illustrating how materialism fails to bring peace even in the twilight years.
181-190	Contrasting this grim vision, Johnson describes an ideal old age characterized by virtue, peace, and a clear conscience. He portrays this as the rare exception, suggesting that most lives end with sorrow and regret.
191-200	Johnson laments the inevitability of suffering in life, from the loss of loved ones to the decay of physical and mental faculties. He highlights how time erodes joy and creates a sense of alienation from the world.
201-210	Turning to historical examples, Johnson reflects on the unpredictability of life’s end, citing figures like Marlborough and Swift. Even the greatest minds and leaders succumb to frailty and folly, reinforcing the poem’s central theme.
211-220	Addressing women, Johnson critiques the pursuit of beauty and superficial pleasures. He warns that such pursuits often lead to ruin, as vanity attracts rivals and detractors, leaving virtue neglected and vulnerable.
221-230	The poet examines the consequences of neglected virtue, showing how it is eroded by pride, flattery, and self-interest. He describes the moral decline of society, where even beauty becomes a source of betrayal and disgrace.
231-240	Johnson concludes with a spiritual plea, urging humanity to trust in divine providence rather than worldly desires. He advocates for a life of faith, patience, and acceptance of God’s will, presenting these virtues as the keys to true contentment.

Literary And Poetic Devices: “The Vanity of Human Wishes” by Samuel Johnson

Device	Example	Explanation
Alliteration	“Roll darkling down the torrent of his fate”	The repetition of the “d” sound creates a rhythmic emphasis, highlighting the inevitability and ominous nature of fate’s descent.
Allusion	“Imitate the Tenth Satire of Juvenal”	Refers to the Roman satirist Juvenal, whose work serves as the model for Johnson’s critique of human ambition and folly.
Anaphora	“For gold… For gold…”	The repetition of “For gold” at the beginning of successive lines emphasizes the destructive power of greed.
Antithesis	“Shuns fancied ills, or chases airy good”	Contrasting ideas of avoiding imaginary evils and pursuing illusory goods highlight human folly.
Apostrophe	“Speak thou, whose thoughts at humble peace repine”	Johnson directly addresses a hypothetical individual, drawing attention to universal human concerns.
Caesura	“From Persia’s tyrant to Bavaria’s lord, / In gay hostility, and barb’rous pride”	The pause created by the comma provides rhythmic variety and emphasizes the contrast between grandeur and folly.
Consonance	“Fall in the gen’ral massacre of gold”	The repeated “l” and “g” sounds create a harsh tone, reinforcing the destructive impact of greed.
Didacticism	The entire poem	The poem’s intent to instruct on moral and philosophical lessons, such as the futility of ambition and the value of spiritual contentment.
End-stopped Line	“The dangers gather as the treasures rise.”	The sentence concludes within the line, creating a sense of finality that reflects the inevitability of the statement’s truth.
Epigram	“Nor think the doom of man revers’d for thee”	A concise and witty statement capturing a universal truth about human mortality and suffering.
Hyperbole	“Crowds with crimes the records of mankind”	Exaggerates the extent to which greed corrupts humanity, emphasizing its destructive power.
Imagery	“Hide, blushing glory, hide Pultowa’s day”	Vivid description evokes the shame and defeat of Charles XII, creating a strong mental picture.
Irony	“Safe in his pow’r, whose eyes discern afar / The secret ambush of a specious pray’r”	Highlights the irony of human desires, as people often pray for what harms them, underscoring the futility of such petitions.
Juxtaposition	“The needy traveller, serene and gay, / Walks the wild heath, and sings his toil away.”	Contrasts the peace of the poor with the anxiety of the wealthy to critique materialism.
Metaphor	“Fate wings with ev’ry wish th’ afflictive dart”	Fate is metaphorically portrayed as an archer, showing how human desires often lead to suffering.
Parallelism	“Where wav’ring man, betray’d by vent’rous pride, / To tread the dreary paths without a guide”	The balanced structure of the two clauses reinforces the precariousness of human ambition.
Personification	“Time hovers o’er, impatient to destroy”	Time is personified as a figure waiting to erase joy, adding to the theme of life’s transience.
Rhetorical Question	“What gave great Villiers to the assassin’s knife?”	Johnson uses rhetorical questions to provoke thought and emphasize the consequences of unchecked ambition.
Satire	“With weekly libels and septennial ale”	Johnson mocks the corruption and triviality of British politics, using humor and criticism to expose societal flaws.
Symbolism	“The golden canopy, the glitt’ring plate”	Symbols of wealth and power are used to represent human ambition, which ultimately leads to downfall.

Themes: “The Vanity of Human Wishes” by Samuel Johnson

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1. The Futility of Ambition: In “The Vanity of Human Wishes,” Johnson critiques the relentless human pursuit of wealth, power, and status, exposing its futility and destructive consequences. Throughout the poem, examples from history highlight how ambition often leads to downfall rather than fulfillment. For instance, Cardinal Wolsey’s rise to immense power ends in disgrace, as he is “Mark’d by the keen glance” of the king’s disfavor and ultimately dies in monastic isolation (“With age, with cares, with maladies oppress’d”). Similarly, Charles XII of Sweden, who seeks conquest at all costs, faces humiliation and destitution: “Condemn’d a needy supplicant to wait, / While ladies interpose, and slaves debate.” The poem asserts that ambition blinds individuals to their limits and the inevitable decay of worldly success. Johnson’s message is clear: striving for greatness often results in ruin rather than lasting satisfaction.

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2. The Corrupting Power of Wealth: In “The Vanity of Human Wishes,” wealth is depicted as a force that corrupts individuals and society. Johnson critiques the obsession with gold, portraying it as a “wide-wasting pest” that fuels greed and crime. He observes that “For gold his sword the hireling ruffian draws, / For gold the hireling judge distorts the laws,” highlighting how wealth undermines morality and justice. The poem emphasizes that the accumulation of riches does not bring safety or happiness; instead, it amplifies danger: “Wealth heap’d on wealth, nor truth nor safety buys, / The dangers gather as the treasures rise.” Johnson’s condemnation of materialism serves as a warning that the pursuit of riches often leads to moral degradation and social instability, leaving individuals more vulnerable than before.

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3. The Inevitable Decline of Human Life: In “The Vanity of Human Wishes,” Johnson meditates on the transient nature of human life and the inescapable decay that accompanies age. He illustrates this theme through the imagery of aging, as seen in the lines: “Enlarge my life with multitude of days, / In health, in sickness, thus the suppliant prays.” Even as individuals seek longevity, they are met with “life protracted [as] protracted woe,” emphasizing that a longer life brings increased suffering. Johnson uses historical figures such as Marlborough and Swift to underscore this point, showing how even the great and wise succumb to “streams of dotage” and folly in their final years. The theme reflects a universal truth about human existence: all lives, regardless of status or achievement, end in decline and mortality.

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4. The Redemptive Power of Faith and Virtue: In “The Vanity of Human Wishes,” amid the bleak observations of human folly and suffering, Johnson presents faith and virtue as sources of redemption and solace. He encourages readers to trust in divine providence, advocating for spiritual submission over worldly desires: “Safe in his pow’r, whose eyes discern afar / The secret ambush of a specious pray’r.” The poet urges individuals to pray not for material gain but for “a healthful mind, / Obedient passions, and a will resign’d.” This faith in divine wisdom offers the only true path to contentment, as worldly pursuits lead to ruin and despair. Johnson concludes with a vision of spiritual fulfillment, contrasting it with the fleeting pleasures of life: “With these celestial wisdom calms the mind, / And makes the happiness she does not find.” Through this theme, Johnson elevates faith and virtue as the antidotes to humanity’s misguided desires.

Literary Theories and “The Vanity of Human Wishes” by Samuel Johnson

Literary Theory	Application to “The Vanity of Human Wishes”	References from the Poem
Moral Criticism	The poem serves as a critique of human ambition, greed, and vanity, promoting moral virtues like humility, faith, and contentment.	Johnson condemns greed: “Wealth heap’d on wealth, nor truth nor safety buys”, and promotes faith: “Implore his aid, in his decisions rest.”
Historical/Biographical	Reflects Johnson’s personal struggles and 18th-century concerns about the instability of power, morality, and human aspirations.	Wolsey’s downfall mirrors historical concerns: “With age, with cares, with maladies oppress’d”.
Psychoanalytic Theory	Explores human desires and their unconscious drives, highlighting the tension between ambition and the fear of failure.	The pursuit of greatness leads to ruin: “Delusive Fortune hears the incessant call, / They mount, they shine, evaporate, and fall.”
Existentialism	Examines the futility of human efforts to control fate and the inevitability of suffering, questioning the meaning of life’s pursuits.	Highlights life’s fleeting nature: “Enlarge my life with multitude of days, / In health, in sickness, thus the suppliant prays.”

Critical Questions about “The Vanity of Human Wishes” by Samuel Johnson

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Literary Works Similar to “The Vanity of Human Wishes” by Samuel Johnson

1. Alexander Pope’s “The Rape of the Lock”
   Similarity: Both poems use satirical tones to critique human folly, with Pope focusing on vanity and trivial pursuits, akin to Johnson’s dissection of ambition and materialism.
2. Thomas Gray’s “Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard”
   Similarity: Gray’s meditation on mortality and the inevitable equality of death resonates with Johnson’s exploration of the futility of worldly pursuits.
3. John Milton’s “Lycidas”
   Similarity: Both poems grapple with the themes of mortality and human ambition, with Milton lamenting the transient nature of life and Johnson critiquing misguided desires.
4. Juvenal’s “Satires” (translated or in poetic form)
   Similarity: Johnson’s work is directly modeled on Juvenal’s “Tenth Satire,” sharing a critique of human desires and the transient nature of success and power.
5. Percy Bysshe Shelley’s “Ozymandias”
   Similarity: Shelley’s reflection on the impermanence of power and human achievements parallels Johnson’s commentary on the fleeting nature of ambition and worldly success.

Representative Quotations of “The Vanity of Human Wishes” by Samuel Johnson

Quotation	Context	Theoretical Perspective
“Let observation with extensive view, / Survey mankind, from China to Peru.”	Opening lines inviting a broad examination of human nature and universal struggles.	Moral Criticism: Introduces the poem’s moral purpose.
“Remark each anxious toil, each eager strife, / And watch the busy scenes of crowded life.”	Highlights the restless pursuit of ambition and material gains in human life.	Realism: Captures the universal human condition.
“How rarely reason guides the stubborn choice, / Rules the bold hand, or prompts the suppliant voice.”	Observes how irrational desires often overpower reason and wisdom.	Psychoanalytic Theory: Explores the conflict between reason and impulse.
“For gold his sword the hireling ruffian draws, / For gold the hireling judge distorts the laws.”	Critiques the corrupting influence of wealth on morality and justice.	Marxism: Highlights economic corruption and class issues.
“Wealth heap’d on wealth, nor truth nor safety buys, / The dangers gather as the treasures rise.”	Reflects on how wealth increases risk and insecurity rather than peace or happiness.	Moral Criticism: Warns against materialism.
“Low sculks the hind beneath the rage of pow’r, / And leaves the wealthy traitor in the Tow’r.”	Contrasts the relative safety of the poor with the danger of wealth and status during political upheaval.	Social Criticism: Examines societal inequality.
“The needy traveller, serene and gay, / Walks the wild heath, and sings his toil away.”	Portrays the contentment of the humble traveler in contrast to the misery of the wealthy.	Pastoralism: Celebrates the simplicity of rural life.
“Delusive Fortune hears the incessant call, / They mount, they shine, evaporate, and fall.”	Depicts the transient nature of success and the fickleness of fortune.	Existentialism: Questions the meaning of human efforts.
“Fate wings with ev’ry wish th’ afflictive dart, / Each gift of nature, and each grace of art.”	Shows how ambition and natural talents often lead to suffering rather than fulfillment.	Tragic Theory: Highlights the inevitability of downfall.
“Wide-wasting pest! that rages unconfin’d, / And crowds with crimes the records of mankind.”	Describes greed as a pervasive and destructive force throughout history.	Marxism: Analyzes wealth’s societal impact.
“Turn’d by his nod the stream of honour flows, / His smile alone security bestows.”	Reflects on the power wielded by figures like Cardinal Wolsey, whose influence was absolute but fleeting.	Historical/Biographical Criticism: Contextualizes historical figures.
“Time hovers o’er, impatient to destroy, / And shuts up all the passages of joy.”	Expresses the inevitability of aging and its toll on happiness and vitality.	Psychoanalytic Theory: Explores the fear of mortality.
“Life protracted is protracted woe.”	Critiques the desire for longevity, highlighting how extended life often brings increased suffering.	Existentialism: Questions the value of extended life.
“With age, with cares, with maladies oppress’d, / He seeks the refuge of monastic rest.”	Describes the ultimate downfall of Cardinal Wolsey as he retreats from power to a life of solitude and repentance.	Historical Criticism: Reflects historical examples of ambition.
“Enlarge my life with multitude of days, / In health, in sickness, thus the suppliant prays.”	Critiques humanity’s tendency to pray for longevity without understanding its consequences.	Religious Criticism: Examines misguided spiritual petitions.
“Safe in his pow’r, whose eyes discern afar / The secret ambush of a specious pray’r.”	Advocates for trust in divine wisdom over human desires.	Theology: Emphasizes faith in divine providence.
“Implore his aid, in his decisions rest, / Secure whate’er he gives, he gives the best.”	Suggests that true contentment lies in submitting to divine will rather than pursuing personal ambition.	Moral Criticism: Promotes faith over material pursuits.
“With these celestial wisdom calms the mind, / And makes the happiness she does not find.”	Concludes with the idea that spiritual wisdom offers solace, even if material happiness remains elusive.	Spiritual Criticism: Highlights the value of spiritual peace.
“Hide, blushing glory, hide Pultowa’s day.”	References the shameful defeat of Charles XII at Pultowa, illustrating the ultimate failure of unchecked ambition.	Historical Criticism: Links ambition to historical downfall.
“Hear Lydiat’s life, and Galileo’s end.”	Invokes the suffering of scholars and thinkers as examples of the difficulties faced by those who pursue knowledge and truth.	Intellectual Criticism: Reflects on the plight of intellectuals.

Suggested Readings: “The Vanity of Human Wishes” by Samuel Johnson

1. O’Flaherty, Patrick. “Johnson as Satirist: A New Look at the Vanity of Human Wishes.” ELH, vol. 34, no. 1, 1967, pp. 78–91. JSTOR, https://doi.org/10.2307/2872302. Accessed 6 Jan. 2025.
2. Chapin, Chester. “Johnson’s Intentions in The Vanity of Human Wishes.” Eighteenth-Century Studies, vol. 18, no. 1, 1984, pp. 72–75. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/2738307. Accessed 6 Jan. 2025.
3. Sitter, John E. “To ‘The Vanity of Human Wishes’ through the 1740’s.” Studies in Philology, vol. 74, no. 4, 1977, pp. 445–64. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/4173950. Accessed 6 Jan. 2025.
4. Boyd, D. V. “Vanity and Vacuity: A Reading of Johnson’s Verse Satires.” ELH, vol. 39, no. 3, 1972, pp. 387–403. JSTOR, https://doi.org/10.2307/2872191. Accessed 6 Jan. 2025.
5. Kniskern, William F. “Satire and the ‘Tragic Quartet’ in The Vanity of Human Wishes.” Studies in English Literature, 1500-1900, vol. 25, no. 3, 1985, pp. 633–49. JSTOR, https://doi.org/10.2307/450500. Accessed 6 Jan. 2025.