Bacon as a Writer of Essays

BACON AS A WRITER OF ESSAYS: A glance at the titles of Bacon’s essays shows that although quite a number of these essays were written for the benefit of kings, rulers, courtiers and statesmen, a fairly large number of them were written on subjects of popular interest. Essays of seditions and Troubles, Of Empire, Of Suitors and Of Judicature belong to the former variety. But essays like Of Truth, Of Death, Of Revenge, Of Adversity, Of Parents and Children, Of Marriage and Single Life, Of Travel and Of Friendship, deal with familiar subjects which make an immediate appeal to the average reader. Essays of this category certainly come home to men’s business and bosoms. One important reason for the popular appeal of Bacon’s essays is that, the ideas, which he expresses, are by no means deeply philosophical. If the ideas were of an abstract or metaphysical nature, the average reader would not respond to them. However, these are ideas, which any man of ripe wisdom and vast experience of the world might have expressed. Secondly, Bacon illustrates and reinforces his ideas and arguments with appropriate similes, metaphors and quotations. These similes, metaphors and quotations naturally add to the popular appeal of the essays. Thirdly, Bacon frequently speaks in his essays as a moralist. Although people do not generally like too much of preaching, yet sensible and wise doses of moralities are not only willingly accepted by readers but also are positively welcome to them. Moral percepts and maxims embodying wisdom give the readers a feeling that they are becoming wiser and morally nobler. They may not act upon the ethical principles which Bacon states clearly in his essays, but they derive a certain moral satisfaction by reading them and appreciating their soundness. Lastly, Bacon’s essays come home to men’s business and bosoms because of the condensed and pithy style in which he mostly writes. Repeatedly, the reader comes upon a witty form of expression that startles and arrests him by its neatness and pregnancy. There are many gems of thought clothed in concise and compact language. Take the essay, Of Truth. It contains several ideas, which immediately appeal to the reader because of their obvious truth to human nature. The reader quickly responds to such ideas because he at once recognizes their validity. For instance, Bacon here tells us that human beings are generally attracted by lies. Lies told by traders bring them financial gain; but why people should tell lies for the sake of lies is not clear. Bacon then goes on to say that, truth gives greater pleasure when a lie is added to it. If a man is deprived of his false opinion, false hopes, and false judgments, he will feel miserable. Having expressed these views, Bacon speaks like a moralist and says that lies, which sink into the mind and settle down there do much harm to man. Truth is the supreme good for human beings, he says. Continuing this moralizing tone, Bacon says that truth is important not only in theological and philosophical fields, but also in the sphere of ordinary daily life. Falsehood, he says, brings nothing but disgrace. Now such ideas are bound to appeal even to a reader who, in his actual dealings, does not give a high place to truth. The essay Of Marriage and Single Life deals with the advantages and disadvantages of both the married and the single life. Here is an essay, which cannot fail to interest either the married man or the single man. Bacon makes some interesting observations about the nature and behavior of women in this essay. A chaste woman, he rightly says, feels proud of her 1

chastity. A wife is faithful and obedient to her husband if she is impressed with his wisdom. No jealous husband can command his wife’s respect. It would be difficult for any reader to find fault with such observations. Indeed, the most ordinary reader can understand the ideas expressed in this essay. Bacon’s analysis of human nature here, as in his other essays, corresponds to well-known facts. Much of the popularity of Bacon’s essays, as has already been indicated above, is due to his compact style. Many are the sentences in his essay that have the character of proverbs because such sentences express wisdom neatly in a pithy manner. A few examples of Bacon’s epigrammatic style will illustrate the great charm, which his essays possess because of this particular style are as under: 1. “Certainly it is heaven upon earth to have a man’s mind move in charity, rest in providence, and turn upon the poles of truth.” (Of Truth) 2. “Some books are to be tasted, others to be swallowed, and some few to be chewed and digested.” (Of Studies) 3. “Wives are young man’s mistresses, companions for middle age, and old men’s nurses.” (Of Marriage and Single Life) Conciseness of expression and epigrammatic briefness has a good deal to do with the appeal of Bacon’s essays. No one has ever produced a greater number of closely packed and striking formulas, loaded with practical wisdom than Bacon has done. Bacon’s essays constitute a handbook of practical wisdom enclosing in their shortest maxims an astonishing treasure of insight. There has been no more active stimulant to wit and the understanding. His essays are a collection of principles, which are true of all men, for all time, and in all places.

Written & Composed By: Prof. A.R. Somroo M.A. English, M.A. Education Cell: 03339971417

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