Unit 3 Joseph Addison : "Sir Roger at Home" II

UNIT 3: JOSEPH ADDISON: “SIR ROGER AT

HOME” II

UNIT STRUCTURE
3.1 Learning Objectives
3.2 Introduction
3.3 Major Themes
3.4 Style and Language
3.5 Critical Reception
3.6 Let us Sum up
3.7 Further Reading
3.8 Answers to Check Your Progress
3.9 Model Questions

3.1 LEARNING OBJECTIVES

After going through the unit you will be able to:

l highlight the important themes from the text of the essay
l appreciate the coffee-house culture developed during the period
l describe Addison’s choice of language as well as his style of writing
l discuss the critical reception of Joseph Addison
l appreciate the text of the essay

3.2 INTRODUCTION

The present unit is a continuation of the previous unit and here we

shall discuss the thematic aspects together with the style and language as
well as the critical reception of Addison’s essay titled “Sir Roger at Home”.

3.3 MAJOR THEMES

The important themes of the essay can be summed up under the

following headings.

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Joseph Addison : "Sir Roger at Home" II Unit 3

“Sir Roger at Home” as a Periodical Essay: As a periodical essay, “Sir

Roger at Home” stands among one of Addison’s contribution in the gamut
of English prose. As the name suggests, the periodical essays were meant
to appear in magazines or journals at regular intervals. Addison through this
essay emphasizes on his social aim of conversion in matters relating to the
practices of clergymen and its relation to the society. Through this essay,
he laid importance to the expressions that a clergyman should cultivate in
order to allow the society avail and witness such powerful sermons. Thus,
Addison did so as to reform the society. With the freedom of the press
during the late seventeenth century, journalism came to the forefront and
these periodical essays were used as a weapon to counter the political
rivalries that basically formed the issues of that time. To be particular, you
must note that the emergence of the Whigs and the Tories on the political
front led to the rise of a literature that encompassed political pamphlets to a
large extent. With the help of periodical essays, however, both Addison and
Steele were able to divert from this kind of political writings and rather
concentrate on entertainment of the public besides laying importance in its
reformation.
Reformation of the Society: Both the editors of The Spectator,
Addison and Steele emphasised on their aim of reforming the society. In
this essay which is a solo contribution of Addison, he did the same. The
writer noted that during his time there emerged a mechanical and political
lifestyle that went with the situation of those days. He regretted that the
clergymen busied themselves in writing sermons and thus that the pleasure
the public used to witness in terms of listening sermons was lost. This is
because the manner of public speaking was paid less attention. Addison
noted this as a problem because it was not doing any good to the society.
Rather than creating sermons, if the clergymen dedicated their valuable
time in the art of public speaking, the society would be much more benefitted.
Hence, in this essay, mixing humour and wit, Addison tries to relate to his
readers such an issue in a bid to reform the society for its betterment.
Addison’s Didactic Disposition: While laying down the aims of
The Spectator, Addison has clarified that he intended to provide a learning
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Unit 3 Joseph Addison : "Sir Roger at Home" II

experience to the masses through his essays that were designed both to
“instruct” as well as “entertain” them. As such in this essay under discussion,
we have come across a didactic tone that has been subtly juxtaposed with his
humour. The best example of such a disposition can be cited from the text:
I could heartily wish that more of our country clergy would follow this
example; and, instead of wasting their spirits in laborious compositions of their
own, would endeavour after a handsome elocution, and all those other talents
that are proper to enforce what has been penned by greater masters. This
would not only be more easy to themselves, but more edifying to the people.
Through this essay, Addison directs the clergymen of his time, who
were busier in creating sermons themselves, to spend more time in
preparing themselves towards enriching the masses. For Addison, the
society would be benefitted much if the clergymen concentrated on their
presentation rather than creation of sermons. As far as sermons were
concerned, there was no dearth of compositions created by great masters
in the past.
The Essay as a Mirror of its Age: Though England during the eighteenth
century was engulfed with political parties and their respective tensions,
Addison while writing The De Coverley Papers was also obliged to stay
away from it. Hence, his papers were mostly focussed on the social mores
and manners of the age. It was not only London and its urban advancements
that found entry into his papers, but also the countryside that occupied the
writer. “Sir Roger at Home” is one of the essays in where Addison focussed
on the country life. In this essay he talked about open fields, manners followed
in the countryside as well as the domestic life of country people. In doing so,
Addison pictured the manners of the country folks that were juxtaposed
with their simplicity.
Addison’s Excellent Characterisation: You must consider the fact
that the creation of Sir Roger de Coverley was initiated by Sir Richard Steele
but this character found its lively representation in the hands of Addison.
With his detailed and minute observation, Addison has glorified this character,
be it in the representation of his physical traits or his personality. While
reading the essay, one finds that the character of Sir Roger is presented as
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Joseph Addison : "Sir Roger at Home" II Unit 3

generous and humble man. Various examples are provided in the text for
enabling the reader to grasp the intent to which the spectator analyses his
host, that is, Sir Roger. Also in the characterisation of the Chaplain, Addison
has put in a lot of humour for the readers to be familiarised with the essayist’s
admiration for the chaplain. As the spectator notes the chaplain is a very
good human being whose personality is marked by cordiality. In fact, the
spectator was quite impressed by the chaplain whose oratory skill was
amazing.

3.4 STYLE AND LANGUAGE

The most enduring of Addison’s works are his famous essays...To

an age of fundamental coarseness and artificiality, he came with a
wholesome message of refinement and simplicity. -Long.
The essays of Addison were both informative and instructional in
content and he was much bent towards the use of social satire in order to
usher in a flurry of social reform along with his friend and collaborator Richard
Steele. Both of them were more focussed on socio-critical aspects rather
than the political and they subtly infused their writings with ‘morality’ through
the use of mild wit and good humour, rather than drilling in a sense of
compulsive morality in their readers. In general, the themes of the essays
were based on the literary tastes, current affairs, contemporary social
practices, manners and fashions of the day which were presented in an
interesting and somewhat a crisp journalistic style. The style of his
presentation had a relative ease to which even a lay reader could easily
relate to and thus, it did not require a critical or literary expertise for one to
comprehend the essays.
Another remarkable factor of the essays is his skill at‘characterisation’
as also seen in the present text, Thus, Addison in his development of the
very nuances of the imaginary characters almost brought those creations
to life. He had a moderate style of writing in which he established a familiarity
with the reader like a friend but also maintained a balanced refinement in his
descriptions playing the role of both an essayist and the social reformer. He
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Unit 3 Joseph Addison : "Sir Roger at Home" II

can be considered as one of the significant contributors to the modern prose

style who through his use of elegant prose and social satire made a difference
to the literary genre of essay writing. His use of humorous satire was not
hurtful in any way and intended to examine and analyse or even throw light
on significant aspects rather than ‘attack’ them with sarcasm. In this way,
he aimed to make a pleasant difference to the general reception of the readers
who had the potential to realise the follies and vices prevalent in society of
that time which makes his humour more corrective in nature.
From your reading of the text of the essay, you will certainly find a
relative ease in grasping and comprehending the conversational language
employed by Joseph Addison. The use of the first person ‘I’ brings in a sense
of familiarity in narration where the reader almost becomes the confidante
(someone with whom one shares secrets) and is almost immediately taken
into confidence. Dr. Johnson in his consideration of Addison’s prose style
found a sense of elegance even in his discussion of informal subjects, with
crisp language and concise descriptions and said “[w]hoever wishes to attain
an English style, familiar but not coarse, and elegant...must give his days
and nights to the volumes of Addison.”

CHECK YOUR PROGRESS

Q 1. Write a note on Addison’s characterisation.

Q 2. Briefly describe “Sir Roger at Home” as a periodical essay.
Q 3. Comment on the language employed in the essay.
Q 4. The essays of Addison were both informative and instructional in
content. Discuss.

3.5 CRITICAL RECEPTION

In his critical reception, K. Deighton remarked on both the use of

humour and irony in the works of Joseph Addison which highlighted “[p]opular
superstitions, personal whims, caprices, idiosyncrasies, social manners,
pursuits, fashions” which were to be “examined, handled, caressed, rebuked,

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Joseph Addison : "Sir Roger at Home" II Unit 3

sentenced” or in other words to be brought under the scanner, to be reviewed

and reconsidered. Deighton had rightly opined on the refined and cheerful
quality of Addison’s literary style of presentation which was also appreciated
by Dr. Johnson who in his analysis of Addison’s works considered his refined
literary abilities. Addison complemented the literary credibility of his
collaborator Steele and vice versa, as is also reflected in the considerable
efforts in the periodical essays of quality which is why critics down the ages
discuss both the essayists together in the same breath.
J. B. Macaulay opined that, “it was due, above all to the greatest
satirist who alone knew out how to use ridicule without abusing it; who without
inflicting a wound effected a great social reform and who reconciled wit and
virtue.” This is also reflected in Addison’s significant contribution to the very
form of periodical essay in the seventeenth century ‘periodicals’ which were
published at regular intervals and specifically aimed at social reform. His
style had a characteristic sense of restraint and control with the effective
combination of stylistic humour, wit and irony. It lent an interesting appeal to
Addison’s Coverley essays which were very well received by the readers of
the time, particularly the creation and characterisation of the figures of Sir
Roger de Coverley or even Will Wimble in these essays. W.M. Thackeray
appreciated his efforts of characterisation in these essays which were good
enough to form a novel saying: “What would be Sir Roger without his follies
and his charming little brain-cracks? ...If he were wiser than he is, of what
worth was he to us? We love him for his vanities as much as for his virtues.”
Addison through his works introduced a rapport with the readers
and what could be considered “the beginning of that general intimacy of the
writer with the reader.” Dr Johnson found in Addison a “describer of life and
manners” who through his delightful portrayal of the seventeenth century
society with an unwavering purpose of reform, also brought about an
intellectual awakening in the contemporary society. J.H Fowler in his work
Essays from Addison considered Addison as a worthy essayist saying: “It
is good to read Addison first because he is full of charm; because we soon
come to feel an affection for this silent, keen and kindly spectator of men;

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Unit 3 Joseph Addison : "Sir Roger at Home" II

because he brings to us vividly the vanished life of the early eighteenth

century; because he creates in Sir Roger de Coverley one of the most
delightful characters in the whole range of English literature.”

CHECK YOUR PROGRESS

Q 5. What was J.B. Macaulay’s opinion about Addison’s essays?

Q 6. What kind of a style did Addison follow in writing the essay?
Q 7. Why was Addison’s humour praised by the critics?

3.6 LET US SUM UP

After having gone through the unit, you will certainly be able to list
some of the important themes pertaining to the essay, you will also find an
easy reference to the context of the intellectual climate and the coffee-house
culture during the seventeenth century. The unit will enable the learner to
discuss and describe the style and language together with the critical
reception of Addison’s essays. Thus, the unit highlights the contributions of
Addison as an essayist to the periodical essay and his lively and refined
style of writing.

3.7 FURTHER READING

1) Legouis, Emile.(1934)..A Short History of English Literature. Trans.

By V. F. Boyson and J. Coulson. New Delhi: Oxford University Press.
2) Stapleton, Michael. (1983). The Cambridge Guide to English
Literature. New York: Cambridge University Press.
3) Addison, Joseph. “Sir Roger at Home.” (1711). in Essays from
Addison by Fowler, J. H. (ed.).
4) Long, William. J. (2007 rpt.). English Literature: Its History and
Significance for the Life of English Speaking World. Delhi: A.I.T.B.S
Publishers.

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Joseph Addison : "Sir Roger at Home" II Unit 3

3.8 ANSWERS TO CHECK YOUR PROGRESS

Ans to Q No 1: The character of Sir Roger found its lively representation in

the hands of Addison. With his detailed and minute observation,
Addison has glorified this character, be it in the representation of his
physical traits or his personality. Also in the characterisation of the
Chaplain, Addison has put in a lot of humour for the readers to be
familiarised with the essayist’s admiration for the chaplain. As
Spectator noted the chaplain is a very good human being whose
personality is marked by cordiality
Ans to Q No 2: As a periodical essay, Addison through this particular essay
emphasises on his social aim of conversion in matters relating to
the practices of clergymen and its relation to the society.
Ans to Q No 3: Conversational language has been employed by Joseph
Addison. The use of the first person ‘I’ brings in a sense of familiarity
in narration where the reader almost becomes the confidante
(someone with whom one shares secrets) and is almost immediately
taken into confidence.
Ans to Q No 4: Addison was much bent towards the use of social satire in
order to usher in a flurry of social reform along with his friend and
collaborator Richard Steele. Both of them were more focussed on
socio-critical aspects rather than the political and they subtly infused
their writings with ‘morality’ through the use of mild wit and good
humour, rather than drilling in a sense of compulsive morality in their
readers.
Ans to Q No 5: J. B. Macaulay opined that, “it was due, above all to the
greatest satirist who alone knew out how to use ridicule without
abusing it; who without inflicting a wound affected a great social
reform and who reconciled wit and virtue.”
Ans to Q No 6: His style had a characteristic sense of restraint and control
with the effective combination of stylistic humour, wit and irony.

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Unit 3 Joseph Addison : "Sir Roger at Home" II

Ans to Q No 7: Addison’s humour praised by the critics because his essays

highlighted “[p]opular superstitions, personal whims, caprices,
idiosyncrasies, social manners, pursuits, fashions” which were to
be “examined, handled, caressed, rebuked, sentenced” or in other
words to be brought under the scanner, to be reviewed and
reconsidered.

3.9 MODEL QUESTIONS

Q 1. List down some of the important themes of the essay “Sir Roger at
Home” and explain in your own words.
Q 2. Examine the role of The Spectator in representing the picture of
eighteenth century English society.
Q 3. Give an account of the importance of the essay “Sir Roger at Home”
by Joseph Addison.
Q 4. Comment on the language and style of Joseph Addison with particular
reference to “Sir Roger at Home”.

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