"The Chimney Sweeper," perhaps, reveals the inveterate tendency of mankind to try, at least in part, to work or earn his way to heaven. The line "if he"d be a good boy, he"d have God as his father," exhibits this egocentric attitude. This thought is repeated in the conclusive statement, "So if all do their duty they need not fear harm." All people have some measure of good in them as all people have some measure of bad in them. Even the most cutthroat killers in prison have their values. They do not like child molester's. Father John Geoghan's murder in prison is recent evidence of this. Since "good" and "bad" are relative terms, everyone can find someone they deem to be "less good" or "more bad" than they are, assuring their entrance into heaven. All religions, and many irreligious people, other than reformation Christianity speak of what man must "do" to get to heaven. Reformation Christianity speaks only of what Christ has "done" to get man to heaven. "My father sold me while yet my tongue could scarcely cry" implies the boy was unable to enjoy his childhood or go to school because of work that must be done. This was, possibly, more common in the 18th century but still is implied as a moral or ethical boundary and then broken in this poem. .
In "Hard Work" one of the first lines suggested the value of hard work and manhood. "Hard work, my father said, was how you became a man. "Ethical and moral boundaries were recognized and then broken by "[pissing] into the coke bottle and [putting] it back into the line." Who or what does this get even with? The bottle, the Coke plant, or society who has to drink the piss? The bottle, the Coke plant, is the provider; the provider of income and if viewed differently of satisfaction. Yet, many of us have wanted to or actual have lashed out in such a fashion. He talked about his "righteous hurt." This implies a hurt from doing something good or worthwhile.
