Francis Bacon's Essayism

Francis Bacon  (1561–1626): 

1. A sketch of his life

• Personal life: 12 years: Trinity College. Travel to France. 
• Science: Lead the Scientific revolution. He's the “Father of modern  scientific method”—Baconian method - idols of human mind. “Father of deductive reasoning” . Reform in science. Simplex to complex. Against empirical scientism (he recognized the Limits of scientific knowledge).Against speculative science  VS Empirical science.
• Politics: Laws in Cambridge. Statesman. 8 times in the Parlament. Orator . Lawyer Jurist / Judge. Bribes. Imprisonment. Reform of English law—legal works. Different charges during Queen Elizabeth and King James. -Many enemies
• Philosophy: Empirism. “Father of Empirism”. Against mere rationalism. Moral philosophy. A moralist because he preached morality and virtue. “Founder of modern philosophy”
• Religion: Christian philosopher. Morals. Against atheism. Against superstition. Reivindication of Protestantism. Translated Psalms from the Bible into English., “Theological tracts” – collection of prayers. 
• Literature: Father of English Essayism. Knew latin and greek. Shared the wisdom of his life.. The first works in English that described themselves as essays. New Atlantis (1624)– Utopian novel- ideal university, Solomon’s House no immorality
• Works: Essays (1597) 10 treatises. Essays (1612) 38 treatises. Essays (1625) 58 treatises. Of the proficience and advancement of learning, divine and human (1605). Science and religion and its relationship. Novum Organum  (1620)

2. Bacon’s Essays

Michel de Montaigne's three volume Essais in the mid 1500s contain over 100 examples widely regarded as the predecessor of the modern essay. Montaigne is considered the father of essayism as such, but Bacon is the father of English essayism. He added a common structure. His essays were written throughout 30 years thoughout different periods of his life. Yet, It s practically impossible to distinguish the period each essay belongs to, since Bacon’s style is uniform and the style is very similar always.

Nonetheless, he explores numerous subjects with an observational eye that relates incidents to meaning and only eventually reveals his judgment and wisdom on the subject. Bacon had a genius as a phrase-maker.

Some are philosophical, some are religious, some are witty, some are deep, some are humorous. Bacon often takes both sides of an argument in his essays, he is often pragmatic or utilitarian, seeming to enjoy the role arguing against himself. Weighing one argument against another.  A unique writing style which was quite different from the contemporary writers. It was not his style to present the case to the readers as it stands. Whenever he wrote an essay he always made the readers see both the sides of the picture

Argumentative essays are a genre of writing that requires investigating a topic; collecting, generating, and evaluating evidence; and establishing a position on the topic in a concise manner. Aphorisms: an original thought, spoken or written in a laconic (concise) and memorable form.

He talked about the advantages and disadvantages. He argued as well as gave justifications so that the readers can make up their mind by using their intellect and due to this his readers never lost their interest while reading his essays. His essays became the most cited prose writings of English literature.

Essays in relation to the physical world and social /public life	Essays in relation to  individual private life and integrity towards others	Essays in relation to the spiritual world –morals- religion and God
Of Seditions and Troubles Of Great Place, Of Discourse, Of Judicature, Of Suitors, Of Gardens	Of Parents and Children, Of Marriage , Of Envy, Of Love, Of Travel, Of Friendship, Of Health, Of Custom and Education, Of Followers and Friends, Of  Studies, Of Ceremonies and Respects,  Of Honor and Reputation, Of Fame	Of Death, Of Goodness and Goodness of Nature, Of Atheism, Of Superstition, Of Wisdom for a Man’s Self, Of Nature in Men, Of Unity in Religion, Of Truth

3. An example: 

"Of Adversity"                                                                      by Francis Bacon

It was an high speech of Seneca (after the manner of the Stoics), that the good things, which belong to prosperity, are to be wished; but the good things, that belong to adversity, are to be admired. Bona rerum secundarum optabilia; adversarum mirabilia. Certainly if miracles be the command over nature, they appear most in adversity. It is yet a higher speech of his, than the other (much too high for a heathen), It is true greatness, to have in one the frailty of a man, and the security of a God. Vere magnum habere fragilitatem hominis, securitatem Dei. This would have done better in poesy, where transcendences are more allowed. And the poets indeed have been busy with it; for it is in effect the thing, which figured in that strange fiction of the ancient poets, which seemeth not to be without mystery; nay, and to have some approach to the state of a Christian; that Hercules, when he went to unbind Prometheus (by whom human nature is represented), sailed the length of the great ocean, in an earthen pot or pitcher; lively describing Christian resolution, that saileth in the frail bark of the flesh, through the waves of the world. But to speak in a mean. The virtue of prosperity, is temperance; the virtue of adversity, is fortitude; which in morals is the more heroical virtue. Prosperity is the blessing of the Old Testament; adversity is the blessing of the New; which carrieth the greater benediction, and the clearer revelation of God’s favor. Yet even in the Old Testament, if you listen to David’s harp, you shall hear as many hearse-like airs as carols; and the pencil of the Holy Ghost hath labored more in describing the afflictions of Job, than the felicities of Solomon. Prosperity is not without many fears and distastes; and adversity is not without comforts and hopes. We see in needle-works and embroideries, it is more pleasing to have a lively work, upon a sad and solemn ground, than to have a dark and melancholy work, upon a lightsome ground: judge therefore of the pleasure of the heart, by the pleasure of the eye. Certainly virtue is like precious odors, most fragrant when they are incensed, or crushed: for prosperity doth best discover vice, but adversity doth best discover virtue.

4. Analysis

Prosperity is something that is directly related to happiness and relief so apparently it will have all the positive things, but adversity being the opposite of prosperity, if it affects our personality in a positive way then it must be appreciated.

Now Bacon clarifies his point through “faith”. Everyone knows that miracles happen but the people who have firm faith in God do not question it, while the non believers question it because they don’t believe that miracles have a command over nature but it is Adversity that makes miracles happen i.e. when something wrong is happening God sets is right though a miracle. Hence Adversity is somewhat positive because it leads to miracles.

Bacon gave examples and references from various fields so that if the reader does not agree with one example he may agree with the other one.

 Bacon refers to Hercules and Prometheus and uses the metaphor of “sea” to clarify that how adversity teacher us the skill to sail and endure the hardships of life. Temperance means moderation and prosperity teaches us temperance. When a person is blessed with prosperity he will spend his resources mindfully because he knows that he is going through a good time. On other hand fortitude means patience and adversity teaches us fortitude. It gives us strength to bear the hardships of life. Both are good but adversity is more of a heroic virtue because it helps us to lead life smoothly.

   In the end Bacon gives two examples to support adversity, one of a tapestry and the other of a flower. The tapestry has lighter colors in background and darker colors in foreground; it symbolizes our life where the major part of our life consists of hardships. On the other hand the dark colors in the foreground symbolize the happiness in our life because they are lesser in quantity. The example of flower tells us that if we really want to make our life worthy then we have to face hardships because a flower’s fragrance can be felt only if it is crushed.

Adversity describes a state of hardship and misfortune but it has a positive impact on our personalities. If a person has experienced prosperity, only through his life then he would never consider the non availability of resources in his life. One may not admire a person who remains happy during his prosperous days, but a person who remains happy during adversity is the one who should be admired. Thus adversity teaches us to thank God in every condition. Hence Bacon takes the side of adversity and proves it to be a positive virtue. I totally agree with Bacon’s point that adversity has advantages.

             Gives meaning to adversity.             
People show who they really are when they face difficult times
Get out the best out of you
Make beauty out of ashes