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

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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