Write a critical appreciation of Bacon's Of Studies.

Write a critical appreciation of Bacon’s Of Studies.

Ans.

Introduction: Bacon’s Of Studies is one of his most popular essays. The Renaissance influenced the people of Elizabethan Age so greatly that studies became an essential part of their daily life. In order to attain limitless knowledge so many of them began to adopt short-cut methods of reading books. In place of reading bulky books they liked to know about books by using notes, or extracts made from them by others. Bacon points out objects and proper ways of studies in the present essay. According to him the short-cut method should be used to study unimportant books only. Bacon claims that studies serve not only the single purpose of increasing knowledge, but also contribute to delight, improve ability and make our expression impressive. He warns against the excessive use of studies in practical life for the importance of natural abilities and practical experience cannot be ignored. This essay brings to light Bacon’s good sense, wit and condensation of thought. It consists of those thoughts and ideas which Bacon has discussed in his great work “The Advancement Of Learning’. It is Bacon’s comprehensive approach to the subject that he points out the medical value as well as the disadvantages of studies. It is a representative essay by Bacon for it brings to light all of his qualities as an essayist. The essay is full of great ideas, clarity of thought and expression, practical wisdom, poetic images as well as for and against arguments. The author uses some Latin expressions also.

Greatness of Ideas: Bacon’s ‘Of Studies’ is an ideal essay that is full of great ideas. The Renaissance influenced the people of Elizabethan Age so greatly that studies became an essential part of their daily life. In order to attain limitless knowledge so many of them began to adopt short-cut methods of reading books. In place of reading bulky books they liked to know about books by using notes, or extracts made from them by others. Bacon points out objects and proper ways of studies in their present essay. According to him the short-cut method should be used to study unimportant books only. Bacon claims that studies serve not only the single purpose of increasing knowledge, but also contribute to delight, improve ability and make our expression impressive.

“Studies serve for delight, for ornament, and for ability.”

He warns against the excessive use of studies in practical life for the importance of natural abilities and practical experience cannot be ignored.

“They perfect nature, and are perfected by experience.”

According to Bacon there should be a positive object of making studies. We should study not to contradict and challenge or accept whatever is present in books. It is better to judge and think over that.

“Read not to contradict and confute, nor to believe and take for granted, nor to find talk and discourse, but to weigh and consider.”

Clarity of Thought and Expression: Bacon’s belief in clarity of thought and expression is well exposed in this essay when he adopts the device of classification. He classifies purposes of studies in three parts:

“Studies serve for delight, for ornament, and for ability.”

He brings to light not only advantages of studies but also its disadvantages that appear when studies are used in excess. Too much study for delight develops idleness: for ornamentation develops artificiality; to take decision wholly by their rules is a bookish approach that becomes the whim of a learned man. Studies mature natural talent that is perfected by practical knowledge. Natural talent too requires pruning or trimming. Books express confusing or contradictory ideas that should be limited by experience. Wicked people oppose studies, common or foolish people admire them while wise people use them.

“Crafty men condemn studies, simple men admire them, and wise men use them.”

Bacon’s classification of books on the basis of their importance is remarkable. He advises the ways of studies according to the value of the book. He clearly points out that all books are not to be studies attentively.

“Some books are to be tasted, others to be swallowed, and some few to be chewed and digested.”

He makes a clear account of various subjects and their positive effect on human minds. According to him Histories develop wisdom, poetry wit, mathematics concentration, natural philosophy depth and moral gravity.

“Histories make man wise; poets witty; the mathematics subtle; natural philosophy deep: moral grave; logic and rhetoric able to contend.”

Poetic Images: Bacon uses poetic images to give a poetic touch to his style. In ‘Of Studies, he introduces nature imagery when he claims that natural abilities are like natural plants that should be ordered by study.

“For natural abilities are like natural plants, that need pruning by study.”

Likewise to classify books on the basis of their importance he uses the food imagery.

“Some books are to be tasted, others to be swallowed, and some few to be chewed and digested.”

Proverbial Style: Bacon’s great wisdom enables him to express thoughts of universal importance. When he expresses these thoughts in aphoristic style so many sentences of the essay seem proverbial. It encourages him to make proverbial statements. The essay, ‘Of Studies’ for example opens with a proverbial statement:

“Studies serve for delight, for ornament, and for ability.”

If any body talks about studies, he refers to this statement necessarily. The essay is full of such statements as express a general thought which is true to all.

“To spend too much time in studies is sloth.

For natural abilities are like natural plants, that need pruning by study;

They perfect nature, and are perfected by experience.

Crafty men condemn studies, simple men admire them, and wise men use them.

Some books are to be tasted, others to be swallowed, and some few to be chewed and digested.”

Bacon uses water imagery for notes and guides;

“Some books also may be read by deputy, and extracts made of arguments, and the meaner sort of books; else distilled books are, like common distilled waters, flashy things.”

Use of Latin Expressions: Bacon used to think that his Latin works would be prove immortal and the English works would disappear with the passing of time. It shows his love for Latin. In this essay also he uses a few Latin expressions like:

Abeunt studia in mores (studies pass into character)

Cymni Sectores (hair-splitters)

Conclusion: Thus, Bacon’s ‘Of Studies’ is a representative essay that brings to light all the qualities of the essayist with a comprehensive discussion on the subject.