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The Way of The World
The Way of The World
The Way of The World
Abstract
The article ultimately focuses on the style of Francis Bacons essays, primarily dealing
with Bacons uses of quotations in his essays. Almost all the essays of Bacon bear
witness to Bacons learned mind in the extensive use of quotations drawn from various
sources. Bacons uses of quotations serve his essays in many ways; highly influencing
his distinct style. This thesis paper attempts to analyze his techniques of using
quotations; describing the purpose the serve and the importance they hold in the
essays. And here at least five essays of Bacon have been used to provide examples for
the analysis.
Next, in the same essay Bacon gives a reference to Lucretius who belonged to the sect of
Greek philosopher (Epicureans), quoting excellent lines from him:
It is a pleasure to stand upon the shore, and to see ships tost upon the sea; a pleasure to stand in the window
of a castle, and to see a battle and the adventure thereof below: but no pleasure is comparable to the vantage
ground of truth, and to see the errors and wanderings, and mists, and tempests in the vale below;
.(Pitcher,1985:62:17).
The essayist quotes these lines with a view to illustrating the importance and the enjoyment
of searching for truth, for a man who knows the truth of the world gets the highest pleasure
in being enlightened and avoiding the errors and follies of the world. Bacon also supports
his conviction of the fact that the exercise of truth is the highest quality of human nature.
After that, to explain a liars lowest position and lowliness and the fact that a simple lie is
considered to be a serious sin, Bacon very appropriately says that A man lieth, is as much
as to say, that he is brave towards God and a coward towards men.
Here Bacon comes to explain a liars paradoxical position. This equation ultimately serves
his purpose of providing the fact that low of God is the low of Truth and telling a lie a man
appears to say what can God do to me? challenging His omnipotence or omniscience. And
finally Bacon draws the conclusion of the essay by a quotation from the Bible that when
Christ will come he shall not find faith upon the earth.(Pitcher,1985:63:9). So, such will be
the consequence if people divert themselves from the way of truth to that of false.
The quotation here is so intelligently used that a reader may be in dilemma whether to
accept it or to deny. So, Bacons intention behind the use of this quotation is better be
interpreted as an encouragement for men to marry with accepting all the follies of it, rather
3
than a discouragement for them. Thus his uses of quotation lend weight to his idea, making
them more convincing and scholarly.
The statement in the quotation obviously strengthens the argument given by the writer. The
quotation clearly explains the miserable condition of a retired man who once belonged to a
high position and has now withdrawn from his duty.
Then, in another point, Bacon says that a man in great fortune is a stranger to himself who
is too busy to take care of his own body and mind. Immediately, he defends it with a
quotation from Seneca: -Illi mors gravis incubat, quinotus nimis omnibus, ignotus moritus sibi"(Pitcher,1985:90:9)[Death falls heavy
upon him who dies too well known to others, but unknown to himself].
Surely, the quote from Seneca here elucidates Bacons own comment upon a man in great
place, at the same time the quotation itself being elucidated by the comment, lending weight
to each other.
Next, there is a quotation from the Bible that exemplifies Bacons affirmation that the
purpose of mans activities is to achieve good, and that the awareness of having done good
actions entitles a man to enjoy his rest. The quotation is
Et converses Deus ut aspiceret upera quoe fecerunt manus suoe, vidit quod omnia essent bona
nimis"(Pitcher,1985:91:9)[ and God turned to behold the works which his hands had made, and saw that they
were all very good.].
The quotation from Bible had made his points better convincing here.
In another point in the essay, Bacon argues that it is not proper to be influenced by personal
consideration and show favor to individuals because a man will readily violate rules for the
pettiest considerations.
Bacon makes his argument undeniable by supporting it with a firm quotation from
Solomon:
To respect persons is not good; for such a man will transgress for a piece of bread.(Pitcher,1985:92:19).
The essay Of Friendship is another example of Bacons essays that contains abundant use
of quotations. At the very outset of the essay, for example, the argument is set in the motion
by a renowned quotation from Aristotle - Whosoever is delighted in solitude is either a wild beast or
a god. (Pitcher,1985:138:2)
Aristotles remark that a man who loves solitude is either a beast or an angel is according to
Bacon, only half true.
Bacon agrees that love of being isolated is indeed a symptom of a persons being beastly
nature. However, he criticizes that it can seldom be a mark of godliness, unless it is part of
the renunciation of the world for higher spiritual mediation.
Again, Bacon argues that solitude has a wider implication than what people believed it to
have. Bacon quotes a Latin adage:
Magna civitas, magna selitudoi"(Pitcher,1985:138:16)[A great city is a great solitude.]
The quotation here is also judged by the reasons put forward by the essayist: in a great town
friends are scattered.
In the essay there are a number of examples that bear Bacons wisdom and knowledge to
quote from many ancient writers. To exemplify the negative consequence of rising, Bacon
quotes the words of Pompey to the king Sylla:
Pompey said for that men adored the sun rising than the sun setting(Pitcher,1985:139:36)
in a tone of insolence and pride.
A similar type of example is available here that Augustus raised Agripa to such a high
position that Maneceas told him that he must either marry his daughter to Agripa, or take
away his life; there were no third way, he had made him so great.(Pitcher,1985:140:14).
The quotations from history are very effective in the essay to support and defend
affirmations very strongly.
Again, Bacon, in order to favor the fact that a man having no friend to disburden his heart
would be in a misery, mentions Comineus comment on Duke Charls The Hardy- that
closeness did impair and a perish his understanding.(Pitcher,1985:141:9).
Next, while Bacon discusses the advantages, he also reminds the readers now about the
negative effect of communicating ones heart to a friend by quoting Pythagoruss unpleasant
adviceFurthermore, Bacon amplifies it by saying that men want friends to open themselves unto
are cannibals of their own hearts.
Now, Bacon, in order to make a counterbalance, illustrates the condition of a friendless man
by quoting James marvelous opinion: (friendless men are those) that look something into
glass, and presently forget their own shape and favor.(Pitcher1985:143:9).
And finally, Bacon quotes an ancient saying just in order to emphasize the importance of a
real friend: that a friend is another himself.(Pitcher,1985:144:7).
So these are some of the excellent examples of Bacons uses of quotations in the essay "Of
Friendship".
Conclusion
A quotation is a group of words taken from a text or saying and repeated by another author
than the original author or speaker. The use of quotation is considered one of the influential
characteristics of a writer, largely enriching his style. Francis Bacon has shown extensive
uses of quotations in his essays, employing them with a craftsmanship, either to lend weight
to his ideas, or to explain and elucidate his points or to illustrate and support his point or to
defend his arguments, sometimes giving his own interpretations of them. This paper
attempts to analyze his different ways of using quotations, detecting their purpose and
importance in the essays.
ynt Cancer.
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