Francis
Bacon was the greatest prose writer of the late 16th century and also of the
early 17th century. Till today, his essays are considered as of classic status.
Most of Bacon’s important work is in Latin. He believed that his works written
in English would not receive any lasting impression. He mistrusted the
permanence of English as a language. But it’s a pity that we remember Bacon for
his essays written in English. Bacon expressed himself both in English and
Latin.
Sir
Francis Bacon’s fame in England and even abroad rests very largely on his
Essays. According to W.J. Long, Bacon’s famous essays are the one work, which
interests all students of English literature. In these Essays, Bacon presents
himself as a novelist, a statesmen and a man of the word. They are the fruits
of the observation of life. In fact, the Essays are the fullest and finest
expression of the practical wisdom he had acquired from study experience and
meditation.
Some
of the major features of Bacon’s prose are:
Objective
Use
of short and sharp sentences
Figurative
style
Use
of logical sequence
One
of the major features of Bacon’s prose style was that they were very objective.
He did not use much emotion. Reading his essays, one would feel like they are
reading advices of a learned and experienced man. He presented both advantages
and disadvantages of a particular issue. For example, in “Of Marriage and
Single Life” he says, “Unmarried men are best friends, best masters and best
servants; but not always best subjects.”
If
one goes through Bacon’s essays, he or she will see that Bacon did not write
long sentences. Instead, his sentences were short and concise. The thoughts
expressed in his essays are very compact and condensed which is why readers
must read his essays slowly to fully understand his thoughts and ideals. For
example, in “Of Truth” Bacon writes,
“For
a lie faces God, and shrinks from man.”
With
popularity, Bacon gained more confidence, he decorated his style with figure of
speech. His metaphor and similes have pictorial qualities. They are graphic. "Virtue
is like precious odors …." Bacon is a master in the use of non-poetic
imagination.
Bacon
presented his thoughts and ideas in his essays in a very systematic and logical
order. In his essay, “Of Love” he starts with the comparison of love in real
life and stage. Then he presents the adverse effect of love and finally categorizes
the good and evil kind of love. He follows the same order in all his essays.
Contraction
and Expansion of Ideas:
First
he gives the idea in condensed form, “Studies serve for delight, for ornament,
and for ability” (Of Studies). Then he expands, “Their chief use for delight, is
in privateness and retiring; for ornaments is in discourse; and for ability, is
in the judgment and disposition of business….”
As I
have mentioned earlier that Bacon wrote both in Latin and in English. He
extensively used Latin expressions. He also used Greek expressions.
Here
are some examples:
“Abeunt
studia in mores…” in “Of Studies”.
“Optimum
elige…” in “Of Parents and Children“.
“Satis
magnum…” in “ Of Love”.
“Vetulam
Suam…” in “Of Marriage and Single Life”.
