Throw some light on Periodical essays.

Ans.

PERODICAL ESSAYS

The essays as a literary form in English originated with Francis Bacon and the periodical essay as a piece of Journalism began towards the end of the seventeenth century.

The periodical essay appeared in magazines and journals after fixed interval of time. It had a social aim that was to improve the manners and mor also of the people of the age. Daniel Defoe, Addison, Steels, Dr. Johnson and Goldsmith made a great contribution to the development of the periodical essay in the eighteenth century.

(i) The Review- Daniel Defoe is considered the pioneer of the periodical essay in English. His Review which as a major periodical, at first appeared weekly, then twice and later thrice a week, acquainted the English with this new genre of literature.

Though the Review was brought to an end in 1712, it was undoubtedly the fore-runner of The Tatler and The Spectator.

(ii) The Tatler- The Tatler was the brain-child of Sir Richard Steele who started this periodical on April 12, 1709. explaining the reason for its publication, Steel wrote:

“The general purpose of this paper is to expose the false arts of life. to pull off the disguise of cunning, vanity and affection and to recommend a general simplicity in our dress, our discourse and our behaviour.” The Tatler’ appeared thrice a week and Steele painted almost the whole age of queen Anne in this periodical.

The paucity of matter abruptly brought it to an end on Jan. 2, 1711. In “Tatler”, Addison made occasional and later a frequent contribution. It shows Steels’ versatility in conceiving humorous types of characters in his simple and lucid prose style.

(iii) The Spectator- Steele joined with Joseph Addison (1672-1719) in starting The Spectator in 1711. This periodical contained only essay. This change was brought about by Steele to accommodate Addison’s genius which made both The Tatler and The Spectator popular.

In the words of Macaulay: “In the spectator and the Tatler, we once again see the inevitable eighteenth century with the church thronging with the daily worshippers, the beaux gathering in the coffee-houses, the gentry going to the drawing room, the ladies thronging to the toy-shops, the charman jostling in the street.”

Other Periodicals Essays

Steele’s Guardian that followed The Spectator was also a popular periodical of the eighteenth century. Swift wrote Journal of Stella (1710-13) which gives us an excellent information about contemporary political events. It also acquaints us with Swift’s personal life and his love affairs with Stella. Dr. Samuel Johnson’s The Idler (1758-1760) and The Rambier essayist was much more serious in purpose than was Steele. Oliver Goldsmith also wrote many periodical essays. The Citizen of the World (1762), his best work, is a collection of essays which originally appeared in The Public Ledger as “Chines Letters” (1760-61). These essays are remarkable for their graceful charming and amiable prose style.

Thus in the second half of the eighteenth century, the periodical essay showed a deep decline. Now, the periodical essay showed a tendency to get incorporated into a newspaper. But the spectacular rise of the periodical essay in the first half of the age helped in the development of the modern prose.