Introduction
Francis Bacon, the English essayist, is widely popular for his experimentation in essay writing style. He preferred observation, experimentation, and inductive reasoning over tradition. Bacon’s empiricism made him different from his contemporaries. His essays are celebrated for brevity, aphoristic style and practical wisdom.
Francis Bacon and His Essays
Francis Bacon first published his Essays in 1597 with only 10 essays. In 1612, he brought out a second edition that expanded the number to 38. Finally, in 1625, he published the third and last edition containing 58 essays, which is considered the complete and most significant collection.
Bacon’s writing style
In “of Studies”, Bacon takes the job of discoursing his knowledge regarding the field of study. He applies terse and epigrammatic sentence in his work which was totally a remarkable experimentation. He rejected Ciceronian prose style and used his own style to produce his essays. His aphoristic statements were memorable in nature as if written in a lucid manner.
Opening Line: “Studies serve for delight, for and for an ornament, and for ability”
Bacon’s ‘Of Studies’ was first published in 1597. In 1612, it was repeated in a slightly expanded form. It was further expanded in the 1625 edition. The opening line of the work possesses a striking feature. It conveys the dominant theme of the essay in a precise sentence possessing the aphoristic feature. “Studies serve for delight, for and for an ornament, and for ability” is a striking introduction to the essay.
The opening lines provides the basic use of study. Some people read or do study to gain delight from it. They find pleasure in going through various genres and types of texts, thereby enriching their intellect and knowledge reservoir. Some people use study as an ornament. By “ornament”, Bacon meant to say that study can be used as jewelries to decorates one’s own speech. Some people use study and their experiences to give judgement. The study provides the required knowledge and experiences to give judge a situation without any bias.
Merits and Demerits of Study
Next, Bacon elucidates upon the merits and demerits of study. Bacon has involved scientific and logical approach in putting forward his views upon any topic. Therefore being a keen observant, he stated the merits as well as demerits of study.
“To spend too much time in studies is sloth; to use them too much for ornament, is affectation; to make judgement wholly by their rules, is the humour of a scholar”
Bacon says “To spend too much time in studies is sloth; to use them too much for ornament, is affectation; to make judgement wholly by their rules, is the humour of a scholar”. If a person is totally engaged in studying without balancing his life , it will turn him into a bookworm. Bacon wants a healthy use of study. If one uses study only to boast about his knowledge , then this use of study as ornamentation is called affectation. In last scenario, Bacon says to use study only by their rules makes a person pedantic. It turns a person who cares only about the rules without going deep into its taste.
“Natural talents are natural plants”
Bacon uses analogies to explain the benefits of study. The analogy of plants is used to explain about natural talents. According to Bacon, “Natural talents are natural plants”. Their natural abilities require pruning as the plants to acquire it a proper personality like the proper shape of the plant.
When a plant grows undisturbed, then it moves into unguided directions without maintaining a proper balance. The gardener’s role here becomes important as he guides the plant’s directions by proper pruning. Similarly, when a person is studying then he or she should decide the purpose of their study. The purpose that will commensurate with the direction of study.
We should not consume every text or book that comes in our knowledge. A logical person will give priority to his purpose, goals and experience of his study. Bacon considers this type of study as a healthy resonating balance where pruning is done by experience rather than illogic.
Some books are to be taste, others to be swallowed, and some few to be chewed and digested;
Bacon not only stops on the merits and demerits but also explains the way of studying books. Some books need to be tasted, some to be swallowed and others to be chewed and digested. If the axiom shocks and amuses you, then you are properly following Bacon.
Bacon is quite witty in his approach to put forward his convictions. It is compelling us to ponder on how to taste or how to chew a book. Well, Bacon means to say that some information of books are not that important that you need to read each and every line. On the other hand, some books are so much important and relevant, that if you are neglecting it then you are doing wrong to yourself. But what he means by saying that some needs to be only swallowed.
Well, Bacon is quite an interesting person who makes us think a lot. By the term “swallow”, he claims that there is also a category of books which does not need so much attention as if you are going to sit for a bar exam. These books can be handled lightly. Bacon is person preaching practicality. He knows very well the importance of knowledge consumption but with precision, balance and priority. He could have very easily etched that reading every book is important for your growth. Well, Bacon knows that is all about balance.
Similarly an analogy was given in the middle of the essay where it was stated that “distilled books are like distilled water.” Bacon meant to say that that explanation of some knowledge and information from someone is like distilled water. Unless one reads by oneself the important matters cannot be extracted.
“Crafty men condemn studies, simple men admire them, and wise men use them.” …”Reading maketh a full man; conference a ready man and writing an exact man.”
Bacon’s use of aphorism made his essay marvelous because it had the appearance of proverb. His sentences were easily memorable. “Crafty men condemn studies, simple men admire them, and wise men use them.” One more that is significantly used in literature “Reading maketh a full man; conference a ready man and writing an exact man.”
People who are crafty don’t like to study. Simple men just admire and appreciate study and wise men are the ones who use them. Bacon is saying that reading gives knowledge, conversation gives confidence and quickness, and writing gives accuracy. A person who avoids one of these must rely on other abilities—memory, wit, or cunning—to make up for the deficiency.