How would you explain the fact that Bacon's essays never fail to attract readers?
/ Discuss the qualities in Bacon which you find attractive and praiseworthy.
/ Would you call Bacon a good adviser? Why?
/ Indicate with examples from Bacon's essays the qualities of life that he seems to value.
/ What are Bacon's chief interests revealed in his Essays?
/ Examine and comment on Bacon's advice for worldly success in his Essays.
Francis Bacon’s essays are the reflection of his practical thoughts and experiences which he gained by reading philosophy, history and biography. His realistic attitude towards life which is described in his essays through wisdom attracts the readers. He upholds human nature, thoughts, ideas, beliefs and practices to the readers. His witty expressions and aphorisms in his essays attract the readers most. The essays are on human nature, on thoughts, art and on society and the state.
In ‘Of Truth’, the essay shows Bacon's keen observations of human beings. The remark that love of lies is inherent in human beings may sound cynical but is nevertheless undeniable. This essay expresses Bacon's moralistic learning that is his prudential attitude to life. In this essay, he argued that truth is important not only in theological and philosophical fields but also in day-to-day life. Bacon says that a mixture of lie with truth can make truth attractive.
In ‘Of Marriage and Single Life’, the essay deals with the subject of popular interests. Marriage is a human experience and such a topic is bound to appeal even to a common man. Bacon says, “Unmarried men are the best friends, best masters, best servants but not always best subjects”. He says again, “He that hath wife and children hath given hostage to fortune”. He puts forward a balance sheet of advantages and responsibilities of married and single life. Marriage makes a man do better in certain spheres of work. It makes a man disciplined, systematic and careful to his family. Therefore, Bacon’s analytical thoughts and ideas about human life make readers attractive to his essays.
In ‘Of Love’, Bacon took a pragmatic point of view in his treatment of "love". According to him, love is the result of human folly. If a man cannot resist love, he should keep within limits and keep it apart from the serious affairs of his life. Love brings nothing but poverty and ignorance. Bacon makes his essays enjoyable among the readers by showing the consequence of falling in love.
In ‘Of Revenge’, Bacon here talks about the merits and demerits of revenge. The essay is full of wisdom but it is of a strange kind. He uses similes, metaphors, and illustrations so that his readers can better understand his message. He says, “Revenge is a kind of wild justice”. Wise men do not think about past; they concentrate on the present and future. Bacon considers a person unwise if he remembers the worst days of the past to take revenge.
In ‘Of Plantations' Bacon emphasized that plantations are among the 'ancient, primitive and heroic works'. Here he discussed the processes and methods of plantation in detail. He also suggested the administrators how to make the plantation more useful for a growing nation.
To conclude, it is seen that the essays of Bacon reflect his keen interests in the detail of life. In doing so, he highlighted some idiosyncrasies of life that he seems to value. Moreover, as a practical observer Bacon always attempts to make his readers attentive to his essays.
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