OF REVENGE
OF REVENGE: A CRITICAL APPRECIATION
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“OF REVENGE” is a masterpiece of Bacon who in the eyes of Hugh Walker is: "First of English essayists, as he remains for sheer mass and weight of genius, the greatest...”
“OF REVENGE” is a testimony of Hugh Walker's statement. It contains "counsels civil and moral". It contains strange mixture of utilitarianism and high ideals as Bacon declares that revenge is ignoble and that forgiveness is noble, but almost immediately adds that in certain circumstances, revenge is tolerable. He does not consider below his dignity to offer a piece of advice i.e. pragmatic to those who would take revenge, telling them to be careful not to get into trouble with the law themselves while taking revenge . It is right to conclude that “OF REVENGE” is "a handbook of practical wisdom". However, this essay has "the pith and pregnancy in the communication of thought" that shows Bacon's profound knowledge of human nature and behaviour. Moreover, this essay is rich in its stylistic features that are the typical of Bacon and it is presented with an attitude of formal dignity.
In the beginning of the essay, “OF REVENGE”, we come across a sentence of aphoristic quality as: "REVENGE is a kind of wild justice."
It means that revenge is not recommended by Bacon as to him revenge is uncivilized and leads to anarchy. Revenge is out of place where the rule of law must prevail. Any tendency towards this arbitrary kind of justice should be firmly controlled. Arguing in the favour of forgiveness, Bacon says that to forgive an enemy shows moral superiority and to brood over a wrong done in the past is to neglect the demands of present and future. In this respect, Bacon remarks: "... and wise men have enough to do with things present and to come."
Bacon considers the wrong doer a thorn, so he must be neglected. It seems that Bacon's logic here is a faulty one. One cannot help removing the thorn, which has caused pain. More faulty logic is expressed by
SUBSCRIBE
“OF REVENGE” is a masterpiece of Bacon who in the eyes of Hugh Walker is: "First of English essayists, as he remains for sheer mass and weight of genius, the greatest...”
“OF REVENGE” is a testimony of Hugh Walker's statement. It contains "counsels civil and moral". It contains strange mixture of utilitarianism and high ideals as Bacon declares that revenge is ignoble and that forgiveness is noble, but almost immediately adds that in certain circumstances, revenge is tolerable. He does not consider below his dignity to offer a piece of advice i.e. pragmatic to those who would take revenge, telling them to be careful not to get into trouble with the law themselves while taking revenge . It is right to conclude that “OF REVENGE” is "a handbook of practical wisdom". However, this essay has "the pith and pregnancy in the communication of thought" that shows Bacon's profound knowledge of human nature and behaviour. Moreover, this essay is rich in its stylistic features that are the typical of Bacon and it is presented with an attitude of formal dignity.
In the beginning of the essay, “OF REVENGE”, we come across a sentence of aphoristic quality as: "REVENGE is a kind of wild justice."
It means that revenge is not recommended by Bacon as to him revenge is uncivilized and leads to anarchy. Revenge is out of place where the rule of law must prevail. Any tendency towards this arbitrary kind of justice should be firmly controlled. Arguing in the favour of forgiveness, Bacon says that to forgive an enemy shows moral superiority and to brood over a wrong done in the past is to neglect the demands of present and future. In this respect, Bacon remarks: "... and wise men have enough to do with things present and to come."
Bacon considers the wrong doer a thorn, so he must be neglected. It seems that Bacon's logic here is a faulty one. One cannot help removing the thorn, which has caused pain. More faulty logic is expressed by