Addison as an Essayist

Addison, regarded as one of the greatest prose stylists in English literary history, and the ‘founder of modern English essay and modern English prose, was the pioneer of a style that was very simple, lucid, natural, moderate, free from extravagant expression, and called ‘middle style’. It is a style of straightness, without any obscurities, ambiguities, complexities, or superfluities. “He perfected English prose as an instrument for the expression of social thought.’’ Moreover, Addison, as an essayist, is often seen as a moralist, a preacher, a philosopher and critic, and also a humorist. In this writing we will discuss with reference from Addison’s The Spectator essays.

Dr. Johnson for the first time mentioned Addison’s style to be ‘middle style’. He says well-

“His prose is the model of the middle style; familiar but not coarse, elegant but not ostentatious: on grave subjects not formal; on light occasions not groveling, but without scrupulosity, and exact without apparent elaborations; and always equable, and always easy, without glowing words or painted words or pointed sentences.’’

Actually, he is clear, fluent and understandable in what he wants to say.

Clearness and lucidity of expression is the most striking feature of Addison’s style. There is no complexity or obscurity or difficulty in his expression. Even, a very long sentence can express clear ideas at the very first sight or reading. For example,

“sometimes he will be lengthening out a verse in the singing psalms, half a minute after the rest of the congregation have done with it; sometimes when he is pleased with the matter of his devotion, he pronounces amen three or more times to the same prayer, and sometimes stands up when everybody else is upon their knees, to count the congregation, or see if any of his tenants are missing.’’ (Sir Roger at Church)

Here, more than one idea regarding Sir Roger’s humorous activities is expressed with the help of many comas and semicolons. But each of the ideas is expressed clearly without any haziness.

However, Addison is also very expert, when situation demands, in using short sentences-

“As soon as the sermon is finished, no body presumes to stir till Sir Roger is gone out of the Church.”

            (Sir Roger at Church)

Again, Addison also writes many compact and succinct sentences having quotable quality like those of Bacon. For example –

“In this case, therefore, it is not religion that sours a man’s temper, But it is his temper that sours his religion.”

            (Uncharitable Judgment)

                       

Humour is one of the most notable qualities of Addison’s style. Addison’s humour is mainly ironical and satirical and sometimes funny. It is not harsh or bitter but gentle, genial and civilized with a view to correcting the society out of its follies and foibles. We can mention an example from the essay, “Sir Roger at Church”-

“As Sir Roger is landlord to the whole congregation, he keeps them in very good order, and will suffer nobody to sleep in it besides himself; for it by chance he has been surprised into a short nap at sermon, upon recovering out of it he stands up and looks about him, and if he sees anybody  else nodding, either wakes them himself, or sends his servants to them.”

Here, the humorous irony towards Sir Roger’s eccentricities is notable.

Addison’s style is not highly figurative. Fanciful similes and metaphors are not found in his writings. Rather, when he thinks that his use of figurative language would be more useful and effective, only then he uses them. Such as:

                        “and his coachman has the looks of a privy –councillor”

                                                            (Sir Roger at Home)

Here, by ‘the looks of a privy councilor’, Addison wants to reveal the coachman’s serious and wise looks with a touch of humour. Again –

“A sermon repeated after this manner, is like the composition of a poet in the mouth of a graceful actor.”

                        (Sir Roger at Home)

Addison uses many allusions, anecdotes, references. Additionally, most of his essays are headed by quotations from classical or modern authors and these quotations are very apt to the subjects of the essays. For example, ‘Sir Roger at Church’ begins with the motto from Pythagoras –

                        “First, in obedience to thy country’s rites,

                          Worship ‘th’ immortal God”

Apparently, it seems that Addison is not laborious in his expression and word selection as the reader is not to pay any labour to read and understand his writings. But, actually “Addison was extremely fastidious in his choice of words and laborious by polished and balanced hphrases.” Here lies his difference from other prose writers. In fact, most of the prose of Milton, Bacon and Lamb demands simplified version and explanation. On the other hand, Addison himself is a simplified version.

Addison’s style is near to the language of conversation, but not to the informal conversational style of Montaige. Sometimes, it seems that Addison is talking with the reader. Such as the speaker, the Spectator, that is, Addison is telling that –

“As I was walking with him [Sir Roger] last night, he asked me how I liked the good man [the Chaplain] whom I have just now mentioned, and without saying for an answer, told me, that he was afraid of being insulted with Latin and Greek at his own table.”                                                        (Sir Roger at Home)

That is in the midst of the description of talking about the chaplain between the speaker and Sir Roger, the writer as well as speaker tells us whom he has just mentioned in previous paragraph.

In fine, we cannot but admit Addison’s great service to English prose as well as English literature. He showed a perfect English prose style to a large extent, and freed it from extravagances and excesses of eighteenth century writers, and brought in it clearness, lucidity and exactness. Indeed, we can end the discussion with Dr. Johnson’s tribute, regarded as classic, to it –

“Whoever wishes to attain an English style, familiar but not coarse, and elegant but not ostentations, must give his days and nights to the volumes of Addison.”