The first stanza states that we are "charged with the grandeur of God", or the direct quality of God's being. This statement begins to express the overall feel or idea of a lecture by stating that society will be held accountable for its actions. Hopkins exhibits his lack of faith in humanity by stating that God's quality will "flame out" on the account of mankind. He feels mankind will be "crushed" while attempting to bear this burden. He then asks why mankind is not attentive to God's right to rule. The question proposed, changes the final tone of the last stanza from judgment to curiosity