Robert Burns have been promoted in his poem, and through his song “A Man’s a Man for A’ That”. A socialist by nature, and hence a keen supporter of socialist ideas and ideals. The poet in fact supports the French Revolution by means of this poem.
Just like his contemporary Thomas Paine, Burns is depicting the significance of liberty, equality, fraternity and universal human rights. Being sung as a song in the opening of the devolved Scottish Parliament in 1999, Burns by means of this poem clearly depicts the fact that the character of a man is like real gold and it cannot be priced. Though a man can wear a lot of expensive and fancy clothes but the most important thing a man can possess is his honest character. A dishonest man is just as a matter of fact a black spot for his family, his society, his country, the world and the mankind as a whole.
Burns also stresses on the importance of self-respect in the poem. Self- Respect, says the poet cannot be attained through hereditary or through the attainment of titles. Self- Respect is a character which can fully be developed by an individual all by him or herself. When the poet states “But an honest man’s aboon, an’ pride o’ worth, Are higher rank than a’ that. his t, Gude faith, he maunnafa’ that! For a’ that, an’ a’ that, Their dignities an’ a’ that, The pith o’ sense, an’ pride o’ worth, Are higher rank than a’ that, he is just stressing upon the significance of honesty in an individual’s life.
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Robert Burns also stresses on the importance of self- respect with honesty. However much success a person gains, if he or she does not possess the required amount of self- respect, their life is useless. Respecting oneself is extremely essential but respecting others is also equally significant if one desires to secure a good future for all, a future that is full of mutual respect and brotherhood among all the individuals. Self- respect, honesty and respecting others as much as an individual respects himself is essential for all; a man characterized by these entire traits can be termed as a perfect human being according to Burns.
Burns,time and again also stresses on the importance of hope in an individual’s life. If hope is absent in a life, in the life of any individual as a matter of fact, the mere essence of existence is lost. A man without hope is similar to a dead man. Living with hopes is essential for the survival of mankind. In a crux Robert Burns in this beautiful poem depicts the necessities of the entire character of a man, he essentially says how an individual should be in his or her lifetime.