Meaning & Analysis
A plea to God for one's own provisions, expressed at the moment one observes wealthy people sitting down to eat their meals.
Insights
Critique of Social Inequality
The proverb serves as a powerful critique of social and economic inequality. The simple, everyday act of 'rich men' dining highlights the vast gap between their abundance and the speaker's deprivation, questioning the fairness of such a divide.
The Value of Self-Sufficiency
The core of the proverb is a deep-seated desire for self-sufficiency and the dignity it provides. The speaker wishes not for handouts but for their own resources, expressing a fundamental human yearning for independence and self-respect.
Hope Amidst Disappointment
Spoken after being refused a loan, the proverb is an expression of hope in the face of rejection. It redirects the disappointment from a failed transaction with a fellow human to a hopeful appeal to a higher power for future security.
Social Hierarchy and Inequality
The proverb reflects a society with stark class divisions, where the daily routines of the wealthy—like dining—serve as a painful reminder of the poverty of others. It captures the psychological and economic chasm between the haves and have-nots.
Psychological Resilience
As the annotation suggests, the proverb is a coping mechanism for disappointment, particularly after being denied a loan. It transforms a moment of social rejection into a prayer for future independence, shifting focus from reliance on others to a hope for divine provision and self-sufficiency.
Religious and Cultural Framing
Framing the desire for possessions as a prayer ('GOD send us') was a culturally acceptable way to express social discontent and aspiration. It reflects a worldview where divine intervention is seen as a potential remedy for earthly powerlessness and economic hardship.
Aspiration for Autonomy
The proverb champions the value of ownership and economic independence over dependency. The plea is not for a share of the rich man's meal, but for 'our own,' emphasizing the dignity and self-respect that comes from self-reliance rather than charity.
Rhetorical Devices
Antithesis
The proverb creates a stark contrast between the implied state of 'us' (lacking) and the 'rich men' who are going 'to dinner,' using this juxtaposition to emphasize social disparity.
Apostrophe
The phrase is structured as a direct address to a divine entity ('GOD send us...'). This elevates a simple wish into a solemn prayer, adding a layer of gravity and pathos.
Situational Irony
There is a situational irony in that the comfort and routine of the wealthy directly triggers the painful awareness of poverty and the subsequent plea from the less fortunate.
Transcription
Quotations
(God send us meat of our own when)
God send us something of our own when other Folk goes to their Meat.
Annotations
- Spoken when we are disappointed of some thing, that we would have borrowed.
Related Proverbs
Original Scan
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