Joseph Addison (1672-1719) The Aims of the Spectator
Aims of the Spectator
Q-1: What according to
Addison was the aim of Spectator? How far has that aim been fulfill in the
essay prescribed for you?
Or, Write the
substance of the essay “The Aims of the Spectator.”
Answer:-
Addison and Steele had
clear moral intentions behind the writing of the essays for the spectator
series. They aimed at social reformation, an important in the manners and
morals of the people of that age and the remover of existing removal of
existing ignorance. In the Essay ‘Aims o the Spectator’, Addison sets out the
objectives of the spectator papers clearly. These were firstly to provide the
readers with as much of reading material as possible which would help to dispel
ignorance and promote toleration, harmony and better understanding of their
situation.
Secondly,
one another important aim of the spectator was to give instruction in a pleasant
manner. The aim was obviously moral. It was the intention of the writer to
criticize the follies and vices of the age and to improve the mind and manners
of the contemporary society.
Thirdly,
Addison intended to entertain his readers in a witty manner and amuse or divert
in moral tone.
Fourth,
the important aim of the spectator to improve the status of the women and their
manners and fashion. Addison also aimed at improving the intellectual level of
the common woman of the day. He wanted the woman rise above the existing level
in which they were ready to be treated as an object of sexual attraction. The
contemporary women are only interested to give their attention to their looks
and appearance and not caring for any kind of mental development. It has been
said that Addison had imparted a great change in the mentality of women and
they were also interested to rectify their attitudes towards life in general.
In
the essay “The Aims of the Spectator” Addison sets out the objectives of the
spectators papers. The essay was first published on March12, 1711 and this is
10th in the series of Spectator Papers. In this essay Addison looks
at the impact made by the journal and how its objectives being realized because
of its growing leadership. The opening passage of the essay begins with an
announcement that the volumes of the periodical have been received exceedingly
well with its printing crossing the 3000 mark which was quite an achievements
in the context of the time when print culture was just beginning to make its
impact. Since the readers trust and confidence have been reposed on the
periodical, Addison states that there would be a judicious mixtures of
instruction and wit as these essays have twine objectives of providing
entertainment and education.
Addison
aimed to reform the age out of the folly and vice it had fallen in. He would
provide serious thoughts for barren mind. His ambition was to bring philosophy
to the tea tables and coffee houses and clubs out of closets and libraries of
learned man. “The Spectator” is not a political paper. It does not cater to any
political party. As the editor Addison felt that this paper was in truth of
greater use of than political papers. It would help the reader to understand
himself better and to know himself and his aim in life. This paper would
produced better understanding between people would minimize ignorance and
prejudice. The political paper on the other hand incited anger and creates
bitter enemies.
The
paper is specially recommended by Addison to certain types of people. He feels
that the paper would be especially useful for those gentlemen who like himself
are spectators of life, who are not involve in it, but merely watched from a
distance. He also felt that the female could derive a great benefit from
reading his paper. The ordinary women of his times were occupied in trivial
matters which gave no mental powers to them. They considered occupations like
Jim making and attending to her toilet as the most important work of her life.
Addison admits that women are a source of power and as long as they will not
develop the nation or society cannot developed much. This essay establishes
Addison as a preacher a moralist whose main aim to reform the society and the
series of the Spectator papers were a weapon to do that.
Q-2:- Give your estimate on Addison as the social critic
with special reference to his essay “the Aims of the Spectator.”
Or, Write in detail on Addison’s contribution to the
development of English essays.
Or, How Addison popularized the Spectator papers in the
contemporary society?
Answer:-
Addison is a great critic and social reformer who brought
about in change in the life of the contemporary people through his contribution
to the ‘Spectator’ which he founded in collaboration with his friend Richard
Steele. In ‘the Spectator’ he appears as a judicious critic of manners and
morals of the society. In the introductory issue of “The Spectator” Addison
himself explains that he wants to, “Enliven morality with wit and to temper wit
morality” in other words to instruct by amusing.
The spectator was the most successful
newspaper of the period. It was published daily in single sheets printed in
both side in double columns. So reading soon became a habit like having tea or
coffee. It offered to the new British middle class models of social and moral
behaviors, besides discussing correct affairs and cultural issues. It was
written in such a way as to be understood an enjoyed by people with an average
middle class education. Indeed Addison’s prose, Clean, fluent and elegant
became a model for the writers of this era. His style, reach in humor with
common sense and balance was widely imitated and had a great influence. Joseph
Addison expressed his opinions through an imaginary spokes man, Mr. Spectator,
who sign his entire essay. He was an objective observer of the customs and
morals, of the virtues and vices of the English society.
By the middle of the 18th
century the periodical and newspaper had definitely became a new reading genre.
“The Spectator” was published until 1714, 555 issues all together. It was
devoid of political news and strictly neutral between the Whigs and Torrish.
The Spectator was an extremely innovative and enormously influential not only
in the content of its speculations on aesthetics, literary style and urban life
but also as a medium of social behavior. It along with ‘The Tattler’
inaugurated the tradition of daily periodical, whose subject was not news but
literature and manners. Addison noticed that the manners of the society have
been corrupted in contemporary England by radius factors, for example the stage
actors. So with a view to reform the dramatic context he exposed the principle
of modern comedy. He was not in the fever of showing “Cuckolds” on the stage.
Addison thinks that parties system was absurd in the society. He calls at
parents of hypocrisy and self-dissection. Addison also exposes the trifles in
which the women of the time participate. He laughs at the follies of the modern
women. In this was the main aim of Addison was to reform the society.
As a critic, Addison satires the society
in good and humor way. He was a judge who “Castigates only in smiling.” He was
less contempt more benevolence. Addison shows the conflict between rural
feudalism and urban manner in a brilliant way.
Addison essays are full of nickness. His
sentences are short and polished. His prose style has been called as “Middle
Flight” by Johnson. There are many elements in the spectator which are the
germs of the novel which came to being in 18th century. The
spectator can be called a forerunner of the novel. In this way we see that
Addison’s contribution to English literatures is great indeed. He refers
himself as Mr. Spectator and he looks at the world with the eyes of a mature
person who is always hopeful of better man.
God Bless you all & All the best, by your dearest &
nearest P.B.