Matthew Prior's "An Epitaph" is an elegy dedicated to a dead couple by the name of Jack and Joan. The poem makes clear that they are deceased as they lie in a marble stone i.e. a grave as if relaxing. Prior makes a biblical allusion as it is mentioned that they lived for "threescore and one" meaning sixty one years. They lie dead as they had lived, with no regard to the ins and outs of the world. Prior uses an hyperbole "empires rose or fell" to direct attention tot heir apathy. Hence, they remained constantly as days went by, doing absolutely nothing but walking, sleeping and eating; leading a completely passive life. They would not bother having any more children after the four they had were already dead. They were perfectly suited for one another as nether of them had any relatives nor bothered about anyone.
They seemed prudent at first as they found perfect balance between morality and finances. They were in full self control as none overstepped their boundaries. They were unmoved by the lure of popularity or the fear of censure nor did they care to pass judgment upon others. They did not care what their servants did and eventually the order was turning into disarray. They grew apathetic to an extent that they perhaps gave into gluttony and did not care for less fortunate as they fed them almost rotten meat. They grew apathetic to faith as well as they donated to Church with no regard just to keep up appearances.
They did not care to know the vices and virtues of other men, therefore were unable to establish any meaningful connection with anyone. They did not bother to help anyone lest their stores would not perish. They did not consider their dwellings, its state or for future generations. They lived in such constancy that they neither gained anything or lost as every Christmas their account were balanced perfectly. They were completely devoid of emotions towards any news however they aided people if asked with equal apathy. They sent drinks to all revelers no matter if they celebrated a birth or a death. In surmise, they had no human attributes, neither good nor bad. Hence, they lived a sedentary and indifferent lives devoid of passions, emotions and in the similar manner they lay dead in their graves.
Prior paints a picture of a dreary life of a couple who lived devoid of any emotions. The poem is sixty-two lines long but it is to be noted that every line directly or indirectly points to the same dull, routinized and indifferent lives led by Jack and Joan. They seem to be from well to do family as they can live off their stores, employ servants and live without earning. Hence, this poem might be targeted towards the aristocracy of that period who lived off on the fruits of the labors of others.
He also attacks on the trend of growing nihilism and waning of faith among the upper class. He also points out the bulging hypocrisy of the nobility that just live off for the sake of appearances. The poem hammers home the same message all through out giving a sense of monotony and dreariness of the routine and their sedentary lifestyle. Prior seems to be pointing at the fact that their lifestyle is not at all different from how they lie dead in their graves.
The poem is divided into six stanzas each with rhyming couplets. Most of the lines adhere to iambic tetrameter giving it a uniform cadence.
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