In Holy Willie's Prayer , Burns attacks the small minded, Calvinist tradition which was very much a part of Scottish society of that time. The ‘Argument' which precedes the poem proper tells the reader more of the story concerning Holy Willie, that Willie was a ‘rather oldish bachelor' in Mauchline who had been second best in a case against Gavin Hamilton, a local man. The poem represents Willie's private prayer against Hamilton and everyone else (except himself of course) who indulges in activities of which Willie disapproves.

The first 3 verses set the scene of the Calvinist view Willie has of the world. ‘ Sends ane to heaven and ten to h-ll', was a belief held amongst extreme Calvinists like Willie that heavenly salvation was pre-ordained and that only the chosen, like Willie obviously, were to be selected for heaven. Verses 2 and 3 in particular show Willie's overwhelming egotism where he describes himself as a ‘'burning and a shining light', amongst other things. Willie is the ‘chosen sample' in verse 5, a ‘pillar ‘ and a ‘rock'.

Verses 6 and 7 show a ludicrous contrast between the sinners of verse 6, ‘ drinkers drink', and swearer's swear', who Willie is strongly opposed to, and his own behaviour represented in verse 7 where he admits himself that he is bothered with fleshly lust. Verses 8 and 9 continue this theme with Willie's realistic admissions of his own behaviour with Meg and Leezie's lass a ridiculous condemnation of his public criticisms of other people.

Willie makes sure he gets in a request to his god for Gavin Hamilton to get his ‘deserts; but admits in verse 13 that his own attempts to injure Hamilton caused ‘sic a splore', such an uproar, that the world ended up laughing at Willie. The last 4 verses contrast , in verses 14 and 15, a snivelling, small minded whining from Willie against Hamilton and his lawyer Aiken, with verses 16 and 17 where the tone changes to a booming, mighty request for the destruction of Willie's enemies. The poem ends with Willie's hypocrisy and self centeredness complete with Willie asking to be ‘Excell'd by nane!'

Holy Willie's Prayer is one of Burns' most famous poems and one that creates in the person of Willie one of the most famous characters evoked by poetry anywhere.

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