Analysis of Christopher Smart's "For I Will Consider My Cat Jeofry"

"For I Will Consider My Cat Jeoffry" is a poem Christopher Smart wrote about the cats of another time. Though he makes references to "Jeoffry" his underlying connotation is towards felines in a biblical sense. He will cover both their physical and metaphysical characteristics. He shows their worship of a higher being as well as their worship of themselves and others. In his beginning lines, "For at the first glance of the glory of God …showed first 75 words of 1278 total…

…showed last 75 words of 1278 total…These animals depict how the world should be. Cats are servants of God and respect their masters. They portray the more respectable characteristics of man. They are noble and good-natured and care about all those around them. They protect and bring blessings upon their households. The cat misunderstood by many but revered by some. In this poem Christopher Smart shows the cat as the antithesis of everything in the world that is great about existence.