Write the explanation of the essay entitled "On Doing Nothing".

Write the explanation of the essay entitled “On Doing Nothing”.

Ans.

Explanations

(1) Its remoteness, its permanence, its old and sprawling indifference to man and his concerns, rest and cleanse the mind. All the noises of the world are drowned in the one monotonous cry of the curlew.

Reference to the Context: These lines have been taken from the essay “On Doing Nothing’ written by J. B. Priestley.

By defending idleness, Priestley presents his own experience of complete idleness. According to him barren hills also have an attraction if a person has an eye to observe it.

Explanation: Priestley stayed with one of his friends in his cottage in Yorkshire Valley. He spent with him a few afternoons in a moor lying flat on their backs and enjoying nature. In these lines the writer presents the attractive qualities of moor or a barren hill. According to him it is a connecting way of Heaven. A man can forget all his worries and troubles on a moor. Its distance, its stability and its widespread indifference are enough to provide the rest and clean the mind. As it is quite far away from the noisy cities, therefore it is indifferent to man and his anxieties. The dull cry of water bird curlew makes the man tension-free.

Comments : 1. J. B. Priestley is an eminent writer of modern age.

2. Priestley gives various arguments in favour of idleness.

3. The essay has personal note.

(2) All the evil in this world is brought about by persons who are always up and doing, but do not know when they ought to be up nor what they ought to be doing. The devil, I take it, is still the busiest creature in the universe, and I can quite imagine him denouncing laziness and becoming angry at the smallest waste of time. In his kingdom, I will wager, nobody is allowed to do nothing, not even for a single afternoon.

Reference: The same.

Context: In these lines Priestley puts his views in favour of idleness and criticizes the busy life. He to be free from all physical and mental activities.

Explanation: Priestley says that the world is suffering from many kinds of evils and the main reason of these evils is that the people are always busy in doing something. Due to which the people come into direct conflict with each other. These persons are always alert and are busy in getting more and more. Due to which a competition arises among them. But they do not know why they are wasting their progress for these mean gains. They are unaware of the benefits of idleness so they are always busy in doing something.

Comments: Same as in Exp. I and 3.

(3) Any fool can be fussy and rid himself of energy all over the place, but a man has to have something in him before he can settle down to do nothing. He must have reserves to draw upon, must be able to plunge into strange slow rivers of dream and reverie, must be at heart a poet.

Reference: The same.

Context: The same.

Explanation: By making a comparison between idle and busy life, the writer says that it is much easier to live an active life. According to him activity means wasting of energy. A foolish person can also do any kind of work. But for doing nothing a person should possess at least two special qualities. First, he should have a reserve stock of energies which he may use at the time of need. Secondly, his imaginative power must be strong. Besides, he should be like a poet so that he may enjoy the beauty of Nature.

Comments: Same as in Exp. 1 (1 to 3)

4. According to Priestley there is a great confusion in the world. It is so because man runs after material gains which have no end.

5. The result of activeness is selfishness and meanness. The virtues like sympathy and kindness find no place.