Dispersed Meditation in Francis Bacon

The essays of Francis Bacon show the example of Dispersed Meditation. It is the style, where,
though the discussing matter is same, the ideas that are coming one by one are not well organized
or ideas don't come consecutively. This is why the question of dispersed meditation has been
raised. Of course, Bacon does not stay away from the subject that he places before himself.
There is nothing irrelevant or unrelated to the theme. He does not allow his mind or fancy to
loiter and roam. But we can't describe his essays as well-knit compositions because there are no
light connections between the various ideas and the ideas do not seem to flow from one another.
We can't claim that an essay by Bacon has a structural unity. Ideas have been put together in his
essays almost at random.

In "Of Studies", we find various ideas regarding study. The author gives us ideas about the uses
and abuses of reading books, ways of reading and so on. But we don't find any connection
between the ideas. He jumps from one topic to another topic very abruptly, although the main
topic, study, remains unchanged. None of the multitudes of ideas are fully developed, but then
one may argue that an essay by its very nature implies a mere attempt and not a complete
treatment of a subject. This is true but there should surely be some kind of smooth flow of ideas
from one to another. There sentences have a tendency to stand by themselves, having no or little
link with preceding or succeeding sentences.

The very first sentence of this essay reads like a string of aphorism or maxim. In the very first
sentence of this essay, Bacon tells about the three chief uses of studies; the use of studies for
delight, for ornament and for ability. He also gives excellent advices so as to why and how one
should read. Then he speaks of those who spend too much time in studies are temperamentally
lazy. Here her says, "To spend too much time in studies is sloth; to use them too much for
ornament, is affectation; to make judgment wholly by their rules, is the humour of a scholar."
Actually in there sentences, Bacon tries to show the user and causes of studies, but next he jumps
to another idea about studies without any logical connection between the preceding and the
succeeding sentences. Here he starts talking about the interrelationship between studies and
practical experiences. Studies help a man to overcome deficiencies that he has by nature, and
studies give shape of natural talents. Here he says, "They perfect nature and are perfected by
experiences for natural abilities are like natural plants, that need proyning by study". This is an
example of dispersed meditation.

Next he jumps to another track. That is the right attitude towards reading. Here he says that one
should read a book so that one can think carefully about what it says and then judge its value,
saying, "Crafty men contemn studies, simple men admire them, and wise men use them".

Next he jumps to the modes of study and their uses, saying, "Reading maketh a full man;
conference a ready man; and writing an exact man". In the previous sentence where he was
talking about what we should take from study, now he says what study gives us.

Next he discusses about various branches of studies and their curing ability. In this part, he says
that History makes a man wise, Poetry makes a man imaginative, Mathematics makes a man's
mind keen and subtle of so do other branches of studies. Actually every branch of knowledge has
its curing ability. Studies cure mental just as the appropriate physical exercise cure effects of the
body.

Dispersed ideas are also found in the essay, "Of Truth". Here also we see that the central idea is
about Truth, although he gives various ideas regarding truth and truthfulness in dispersed way.
Although we find various ideas like the people who do not care for truth, reasons why truth is
disliked, poetic untruth, nature of truth and truth in civil business, we don't find any connection
or interrelationship among there topics.

At first Bacon tells the readers about the people who don't care for truth. Certain people find
great pleasures in changing their opinions frequently because they desire ultimate freedom to act
and think, which would not be possible if they had to believe in a fixed principle. Here Bacon
says, " Certainly there be that delight in giddiness and count it a bondage to fix a belief; affecting
free-will in thinking, as well as acting". And he gives the idea that standers of truth in religions,
philosophical and moral spheres keep changing from time to time. Then he proceeds, very
abruptly, to examine the tendency of human beings to feel more pleased by lies than by truth,
and finds it difficult to explain as to why people should tell lies for the sake of lies. He says, "that
man should love lies" for "lies sake"

Then he jumps to the fact that the harm that is done by lies that sinks into the minds of people
and settles down there.

Next he speaks about the values of truth, which can be realized by those who have experienced
and understood it. The essay concludes with a warning that the wickedness of falsehood and
breach of faith with receive their due punishment in the Judgement Day. Actually, Bacon doesn't
offer a particular thesis on the subject of Truth but merely records his thoughts as them come.

In summing up it can be same that Bacon's essays are the full of dispersed meditation. The ideas
that come one after another don't have much harmony between them. Actually his writings are
full of aphorism for which the sentences of his essays seem not related with one another. And all
these things are seen in various essays of Bacon.
Posted by Md. Rajibul Hasan at 10:07 AM 1 comment:
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Humour in Addisons essays

Humour in Addisons essays is chiefly ironical and satirical. Humour and irony are related very
closely in his essays. In most of the time, it is seen, where humour is expressed, he expresses that
ironically. Moreover, his laughter is intended to mend, correct and rectify follies and absurdities.
Irony in his essays is one of the best weapons of satire and it is a chief ingredient of humour.
Courthope says, "The essence of Addisons humour is irony." But he is more concerned with
instructions and reforms than with pure entertainment. He attacks man's vices, follies which are
found in his own speech. He says, "I would not willingly to laugh but in order to instruct", and
accordingly, he produces laughter with the declared and avowed purpose of laughing men out of
folly, vices and impertience. Even his humorous anecdotes have a satirical tone.
In his essays (especially in Coverley Papers), he presents a notable character named, Sir Roger
de Coverley, a character possessing vice and virtues at the same time, who had no physical
existence but symbolic existence. And in order to maintain the special technique, Addison
sometime praises the character outwardly but inwardly these praises become ironic, satiric and
humorous as well.
However, Sir Roger de Coverley essays, considering its subject and matter, can be called a
eulogy of Sir Roger. But as we go deep and read it critically, we must find humoristic
expressions of Addison about Sir Roger and Sir Roger is criticized ironically in many times.
Addison shows that though Sir Roger is a lovable and honorable man, he has comic side. And
everything is delineated very sharply in there essays.
But the irony in the De Coverley essays is not in the least offensive or hurtful. The oddities and
eccentricities of Sir Roger are ironically conveyed to us, but irony is employee in a most
humorous manner. We laugh at Sir Roger's absurd behaviour at the assize and at the church, but
we also develop feelings of respect and love for him because of his humanity, charity and
generosity. Ridicule (by means of irony) is combined wit respect in the portrayal of Sir Roger.
Humour is abound in "Sir Roger at Church". Here most of the time, humour is expressed in the
form of irony. The follies, oddities of Sir roger are the chief elements of humour. His
authoritative power sometimes leads him to become a funny man.
Addison shows that Sir Roger is eccentric to some extent. In this essay we find its full
expression. In this essay his eccentricities and oddities are seen in which he exercises his
authority. He wanted that his tenants should behave well in the church. He allows nobody to

sleep in the church during sermon but he himself did so. Sometimes when everybody is upon
their knees, he would stand up and start counting the number of the tenants. Here Addison says,
"As Sir Roger is landlord to the whole congregation, he keeps them in good order and will suffer
nobody to sleep in it besides himself". Moreover, he "sometime stands up when every body else
is upon their knees, to count the congregation, or see if any of his tenants are missing". As he is
the landlord, he doesn't care about anybody. It creates humour and we laugh at his peculiarities.
And Addison presents these things ironically.
Then again Addison says about Sir Roger that when he is pleased with a matter, he pronounces
the word "amen" for several times. Addison says. "...half a minute after the rest of the
congregation have done with it; sometimes when he is pleased with a matter of his devotion, he
pronounces amen three or four times to the same prayer".
People generally do not do any job during the time of congregation. But sometime Sir Roger gets
asleep during that time and if by chance he sees anybody is dozing, he wakes him up or sends his
servants to him. Sometime he shoughts to somebody and tells not to disturb the congregation.
These eccentricities make us laugh. Even Sir Roger leaves the church first after finishing the
congregation and no one dares leave the room before him. He goes out dividing the people into
two rows and he follows the chancel between these two rows. These jobs of Sir Roger are
humorous.
Apparently Addison tries to amuse the reader through the above humorous expressions but
actually he satirizes the vices of Sir Roger , as sleeping in the church during sermons is a
humiliation to the Christianity/church affairs.
Humour is also found in the essay "Sir Roger at Home". After getting invitation from Sir Roger
for staying some days in his (Sir Rogers) country house, Addison went to his country house. He
village people went to see Addison, but Sir Roger thought it would be a disturbing act. So he
forbids the country people not to get closer to Addison. Addison says,
"As I have been walking in his fields, I have observed them stealing a sight of me over a hedge,
and have heard the knight desiring them not to let me see them, for that I hated to be stared at".
His forbid was humorous.
Moreover, in this essay we meet with a character named Chaplain who "lives in the family (of
Sir Roger) rather as a relation than a dependent". He has a great proficiency in Latin and Greek.
Besides, he was good preacher possessing a clear voice. In brief, he was good person both
intellectually and morally. But his master, Sir Roger was "afraid of being insulted with Latin and
Greek it his own table", because he doesn't know these languages.
Then again he gives suggestion to the clergyman to be instructed by the books of other
professors like St. Asaph, Dr. South etc. It is also humorous, because it is not the proper way to
develop clergyman's creative faculties.
So, undoubtedly we can say that Addison's essays are abound with humour. And humour is
expressed in the form of irony mostly. By the works and attitudes of Sir Roger, Addison

expresses these humours. But his ultimate aim is not to make the readers laugh, rather to correct
us and to instruct the society.

Autobiographical elements in Charles Lambs essays

Autobiographical elements in Charles Lambs essays
Charles Lamb's attitude in his essays is autobiographical-for his essays convey such elements
from where we get to know his personality, nature, character, relatives, work places and people
around him. Thus the subjective note in his essays is vital. As he belongs to the romantic age, the
personal I is prominent is his essays. In almost all the essays, we find and we learn something
about his life. Thus he speaks about his life, likings, whims and feelings. Lamb talks to the
reader as if he were his friend and confesses and confider in him. Lamb's own personality is the
basis for most of his essays. His own memories are reflected in them.
Actually autobiography is that kind of writing in which the writer's states, life and conditions are
delineated. His personal experiences are revealed in autobiography. Moreover, the facts of
personal life of the writer and the activities, relatives, friends, likings, dislikings, character etc.
are written by the writer himself. In Charles Lamb's essays, we find the autobiographical touch.
However, the autobiographical elements that we can get from his essays are written below:From his essays, we, the readers, come to know about Charles Lamb's life and we learn certain
facts of his life- he was born at the Inner Temple and he was schooled at Christ's Hospital and he
worked at South Sea House and India House as a clerk. We know that he was a bachelor; we also
know that he apparently loved but was refused by his early beloved. We get to know a great deal
about his school life in the essay "Christ's Hospital Five and Thirty Years Ago". We know that
he had some privileges in his school. He says about himself in the guise of Coleridge, "I
remember L. at school, and can well recollect that he had some peculiar advantages, which I and
others of his school fellows had not". Again he says "His friends lived in town, and were near at
hand; and he had the privilege of going to see them, almost as often as he wished". Moreover, he
got his "extraordinary bread and butter" "from the hot-loaf of the Temple".

The reason for why his essays appeal autobiographical is his subjective note which is
predominant in all his essays. The subject of the Essays of Elia is Lamb himself. In all of them,
he makes some reference to himself. And the personal "I" is so abound in his essays that readers
ere sometimes fretted, although some critics consider that use as an extra charm of Lamb's
essays. In almost all the essays, he talks about himself, his family, relatives, and friends. From
these essays, we come to know about his personality, nature and character which are revealed by
himself. After reading his essays, we know all about his stammer, his work al India House and
his companions there. It is this quality of self-revelation and confidential tone that entitles Lamb
to be called the "Prince of English essayists".
We also come to know about his relatives and friends. In the essay "The South Sea House, he
writes about his colleagues and gives the readers a very clear view about them. Similarly, In
"Christ's Hospital", he tells about his relatives and friends. Some of his relatives and friends lived

in London and who were, no doubt, very caring to him. They used to bring delicious foods for
him in Christ's Hospital and used to look after him very cordially. He says in Christs Hospital,
in the guise of Coleridge, "He had his hot plate of roast veal, or the more tempting griskin....,
cooked in the paternal kitchen...., and bought him daily by his maid or aunt". In the same essay,
we have collections about a number of other friends who studied with him. We know his friends
lived in town. In Christs Hospital Five And Thirty Years Ago, he says, "His friends lived in
town, and were near at hand".
From the essays like The South Sea House, Christs Hospital Five And Thirty Years Ago,
A Bachelors Complaint, we got to know about his activities and the jobs that he used to do in
his student and professional life. In the essay Christs Hospital Five And Thirty Years Ago, we
see that he was not like his other school fellows and enjoyed much concessions than other's. We
also come to know that "he was a home-seeking lad" and did not enjoy him much with other
boys. Other essays tell his feelings, ideas, dreams and unfulfilled longings. But through all the
essays shine the personality of a man who was alive to the absurdities of the world, sympathetic
towards others' sufferings and tolerant towards shortcomings.
As we know that Charles Lamb was a bachelor and worked at The South Sea House and India
House, he had experiences some bitter and humorous experiences from there. These experiences
sometimes seem humorous and sometimes seem pathetic. In the essay A Bachelors Complaint,
he tells about some of the bitter experiences and expresses his agony for the behaviour of the
married people whom he thinks pretend lovers. Here he says, " What oftenest offends of at the
houses of married persons where I visit, is an error of quite a description:- it is that they are too
loving". He thinks that the married people generally show that they are "too loving" and they
show these things to the unmarried people "so shamelessly". This type of behaviour of the
married people is painful to him.
Charles Lamb is a true lover of the past. He loves past people, books, buildings and fashions, and
does not care much about future. Memories of the past haunt him; recollections of events of the
past are more important than the present; old familiar faces hold more attraction for him. In the
essay, The South Sea House and Christs Hospital Five And Thirty Years Ago, Lamb is seen
as a visualizer of the past memories. In The South Sea House, he says about the building as "it
was forty years ago, when I knew it- a magnificent relic". Here he recollects the memory of the
old building, its damp and dark rooms, the inner rooms which were even more sparsely peopled
and the gloomy cellar which saw no light of the sun.
Although Charles Lamb loved the past things, he loved his life and was loath to die. Like all
other man, he loved the sun, the breeze, solitary walks, the very green earth. He declares his love
for good food and drink. He also loves the theatre, books, good company, gossip and scandal.
And again from many of his essays, we come to know that he likes irony, jokes, pun and
paradox. He never wanted to hide his likings, dislikings, whims and oddities. He frankly
confesses all these things to the readers. He desires the friendship of his readers, and not merely
their respect. He confider in them all about his own weakness, follies and foibles.
As Charles Lamb loved fun, he sometimes used to mystify the readers by declaring something

true to be false, or by mischievously changing names and speaking under assumed personality. In
the essay, Christs Hospital Five And Thirty Years Ago , he writer in the guise of Coleridge.
And it is the last three or two paragraphs when he unveils the curtain and writes as Charles
Lamb.
Lamb speaks of his personal reactions to various aspects of life in all his essays. Even in the
essays like Christs Hospital Five And Thirty Years Ago, The South Sea House , where he is
primarily concerned with other people, he is talking about them from his personal point of view.
In The South Sea House, he delineates the characters of Evans, Thomas Tame and John Tipp
by his thoughts and feelings. And the comments about them are his own. He comments about
John Tipp, "He sang, certainly, with other notes than to the orphan lyre". Them again he
comments about the clerks of The South Sea House, they formed a sort of Noah's ark .
In most of the essays, he reveals the incidents, people and glories of the past. As a result he
picturizes not only other people's conditions and states, but also his own conditions, feelings and
character. In fact, his own life is revealed by his essays. So, considering the subject matter of his
essays, it can be said that a large portion of Lamb's biography can be written from his essays.