O Grub Street! how do I bemoan thee, whose graceless children scorn to own thee! . Yet thou hast greater cause to be ashamed of them, than they of thee.

Summary

In this quote, the speaker expresses their lament for Grub Street, a metaphorical representation of the world of impoverished, desperate writers and journalists. The speaker highlights that despite the lack of respect and recognition Grub Street receives from talented writers who disassociate themselves from it, it is Grub Street that should feel embarrassed by their offspring. This can be interpreted as criticism towards those successful writers who forget their humble beginnings or exploit the struggles of Grub Street, suggesting that they should be more ashamed of their actions than Grub Street should be of its own existence.

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