The Prophetic Voice of "The Deserted Village"

I loved Oliver Goldsmith's "The Deserted Village"! I love the way he takes a counter-cultural stance on the increasing industrialization and urbanization of this time in England.  He is basically calling out the entire new way of thinking about society that was developing and pointed out the horrible, hidden flaws that people did not want to address.  I think that this could also be viewed as an early Romantic piece; he is urging for the return to the natural state of living an agrarian and connected to the earth lifestyle.  He argues that "ill fares the land...where wealth accumulates, and men decay" (51-2).  This new focus on materialistically advancing yourself causes a loss of innocence in people; he sees beyond the draw of wealth and status and possesses nostalgia for the way things were.  Goldsmith also exhorts the people of his age to  "turn thine eyes where the poor houseless shivering female lies" (324-5).  People are being consumed by their own selfish ambitions and in the end it is going to do damage to individuals and society as a whole.  What a warning he gives the British people! It's very interesting to look back in history and see the combination of progress and negatives that such extreme modernization caused in British society---there was a whole new way of living that was replicated in countless other countries around the world and Goldsmith could discerningly see how this was going to permanently change the face of his country.  I think he unconsciously also takes a very biblical viewpoint with his idea that man's "best riches, ignorance of wealth" (62).  Overall, Goldsmith ushers in many Romantic ideas with beliefs that are chillingly prophetic.