RENAISSANCE ELEMENTS IN BACON’S ESSAYS

Renaissance means the revival of learning and an absolute change in every occupation. In its broadest
sense, it denotes the gradual enlightenment of human mind after darkness of Middle Ages. The
influence of Renaissance spirit is obvious on Bacon in his essays. He lays emphasis on self-advancement.
He has a love for classical learning and natural beauty, which are the qualities of Renaissance.

 Worldly Wisdom:
Bacon’s essays bear the pragmatic spirit. He deals with the practical advantages of the things in
the new intellectual atmosphere created by the Renaissance. His essays are replete with what is
known as worldly wisdom. We see Bacon advising the reader as how to become rich, how to rise
his position, how to exercise one’s powers. In his essay “Of Truth”, he emphasizes the value of
truth but also points out that the mixture of falsehood is like an alloy in the coin of gold and
silver that makes the metal work better. In his essay “Of Riches”, he says that the riches are a
hindrance to virtue and yet offers suggestion how a man can become rich.
 Machiavellian approach:
In Bacon’s essays, we find the Machiavellian approach to life, to achieve success in life by using
fair and foul means. This is an important characteristic of Renaissance age. Therefore, he is the
preacher of Machiavellian philosophy.
 Exploration:
The Renaissance was the time of exploration and regional conquests. This aspect of Renaissance
is reflected in Bacon’s political essays. In the essays “Of Empire” and “Of the True Greatness of
Kingdoms and Estates”, he points out the various dangers that kings in the time faced. He gives
useful advice to kings concerning their dealings with their neighbors, their wives, children, their
clergy and their nobles, etc. He tells us that the greatness of a country is not by the territory or
population but the military power.
 Revival of classical learning:
The revival of classical learning and the study of ancient Greek and Roman literature and history
are obvious in Bacon’s essays. There are numerous quotations from ancient writers and through
them he supported his arguments.

 Love for Learning:

Bacon’s love of learning is portrayed in his essays. This love of learning is an important quality of
Renaissance age. In his Essay “Of Studies”, he emphasizes the advantages of reading. His essay
“Of the True Greatness of Kingdoms and Estates” contains thirteen Latin quotations. He says
about the love of learning:

“I have taken all the knowledge to be my province.”

 Love for beauty:
Another feature of the Renaissance that is reflected in some of Bacon’s essays is his love of
beauty and the sensuousness. His essay “Of Garden” shows him as a lover of natural beauty and
an ardent love of sensuous beauty. As he says:
“And because the breath of flowers is far sweeter in the air than in the hand.”
 Use of figures of speech:
 Another important characteristic of the Renaissance is the striking use of the figure of speech
that is clear in Bacon’s essays. The metaphors and similes taken from different spheres of
knowledge and experience reflect the popular taste of the age. We have a glimpse of his
metaphor and similes in the following sentences from his essays:

“A mixture of lie doth ever add pleasure” (Of Truth)

“Men fear death as children fear to go in dark” (Of Death)

 Adventurous World:
As a Renaissance man, Bacon has the sense of curiosity and love for travel. The lists of things
that are worth seeing are typical spirit of the Renaissance. It exhibits the tendency to know
more and more about every thing and every place. It is said that Bacon has Faustian (like Dr.
Faustus) urge of curiosity and love for travel.
 Humanism:
Renaissance age was accompanied with the great spirit of humanism. Bacon’s essays are proper
study of humanism. He directed his gaze inward and became deeply interested in the problems
of human personality. All of his essays have “man” as their subject matter.
 Practical Knowledge:
Bacon’s morality governed by the knowledge that man is not perfect and that he can be
expected to adhere to ethical standards only to a certain extent.

 Conclusion:

Bacon has the main feature of Renaissance spirit in his essays but there is one great exception
and that is the use of language. He does not reflect the age’s pride in English language. He
admired and preferred Latin to English and thought that the Latin version of his essays would be
more popular. Critics have different opinions about Bacon’s language. A critic says:
“The language of Bacon is as supreme in prose as Shakespeare’s in verse.”
In the end, we can say that Bacon is a writer who represents the most salient feature of his age,
which is the age of revival of learning and study of ancients, the spirit of inquiry and
individualism. He is the real product of The Renaissance glory and reveals the thoughts,
philosophy and true features of the Renaissance spirit.