"Some books are to be tasted, others to be swallowed, and some few to be chewed and digested; that is, some books are to be read only in parts; others to be read, but not curiously; and some few to be read wholly, and with diligence and attention."
The quote in bold letters is something which fulfills the saying; life comes to haunt one back at times. If you've done matriculation instead of O levels, reading this essay in bachelors might have triggered the haunting memories of trying to memorize quotes like this one from the eternally expensive notes of private academies to paste during the English examination. That too, ironically, in an essay highlighting the importance of studies. And considering that I haven't done my matriculation centuries ago, this can only mean that Bacon's essay is still relevant during contemporary times.
The essay, written during the early seventeenth-century is not only relevant by the content it contains, but also with the style it was written in. First and foremost, the content shall be looked upon, later moving on to its style. Starting with the title of the essay; "Of Studies". Since the earlier formation period of the essay format consisted of personal thoughts of its writers rather than having an argumentative stance (such as Montaigne), the preposition; "Of", indicates Bacon's personal thoughts on the topic, rather than having a fixed idea of what it is. Therefore, deeming his essay; "Of Studies", merely his personal jotted down thoughts. And yet, his fluid personal thought on the topic remains relevant.
Bacon characterizes the outcomes of studying into three: for delight, ornament, and ability. Starting with delight, he further elaborates it with the term; 'retiring'. This centuries old statement goes hand in hand with reading as a form of ease and relaxation. Whether it be supported by the fact that humans are in a constant need of something new, owing to their natural curiousity, or during the times of constant dopamine overflows, more of it. Although the knowledge surplus, due to (mis)-informative social media posts and reels are an easy medium to quench the thirst for knowledge, books and their study yet remains a more reliable source of knowledge. Ergo (an ode to Bacon's usage of latin), the first point checks to be of contemporary relevance.
Ornament, a lavish age old term for beautification used by Bacon is actually in terms of spoken and written language. This reminds me of Zia Mohiyuddin, whose spoken linguistic skills are still being cherished. A couple of months prior to his demise he was interviewed on his secret to his precise and accurate linguistic mastery, his response; to stop watching television, where a butchered version of Urdu is spoken, and therefore passing onto its viewers. Bacon's century old statement is nevertheless the same. To study, and naturally adapt the language one reads, which results in improvement in both speaking and writing respectively. As Emerson once said: "I have forgotten the books I have read and the dinners I have eaten, but both helped to make me." . If only had the word 'subconscious' existed during the times of Bacon.
Lastly, his claim of ability links with the practical usage of the knowledge gained through delight. All in all, the remaining portion of the essay emphasizes on a balance of studies, which is to not go for extremities. And he places importance on the utilitarian benefits of studies, which is the improvement of not only one's self, rather of the society.
Now that the relevance of the matter is cleared, its stylistic relevance remains. In the essay, Bacon is quite concise, elaborative of his points, and uses examples to further help the reader relate. He uses Latin to explain his points, one of them borrowed from a Latin collection of poems called; 'Heroides'. This referencing is still used in today's form of essays, as the start of this post indicated ironically using Bacon's essay as a reference. To conclude, both the matter and style of this essay is relevant to today's world.
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