The Necklace
Short story by Guy de Maupassant
Guy de Maupassant was a French writer known for his concise and realistic style of writing.
He often focused on the lives of ordinary people and their struggles, portraying them with
sharp observation and psychological insight.
In "The Necklace," Maupassant employs a straightforward narrative style to depict the life of
Madame Mathilde Loisel and her desire for a more glamorous existence. He skillfully
captures the protagonist's inner turmoil and her eventual downfall due to her obsession with
appearances and social status.
Maupassant's writing in "The Necklace" is marked by its simplicity and economy of language.
He avoids unnecessary embellishments, instead opting for a direct and unadorned prose
style that allows the story's themes to shine through clearly. Through his precise descriptions
and keen attention to detail, Maupassant creates a vivid portrayal of 19th-century French
society and the consequences of vanity and greed.
Overall, Maupassant's writing in "The Necklace" is characterized by its realism, emotional
depth, and keen insight into human nature, making it a timeless classic of short fiction.
Summary:
The story ‘The Necklace’ was written seven hundred years ago by Guy De Maupassant in
France. Matilda Loisel lived in a small flat with her husband who worked as a clerk for the
Minister of Education. Matilda was a very pretty young lady. Neither did they live a luxurious
life nor were they poor. Matilda was very unhappy because she always thought that she was
born for all luxuries in the world but she had to live a petty and simple life.
Her husband brought an invitation to a dinner party organized by his office. He thought his
wife would be excited but instead, she was upset. She complained that she had nothing
suitable to wear to such a great occasion. Her husband generously agreed to give her four
hundred francs that he had saved to buy a new rifle to get herself a dress. Matilda became
anxious in the week of the party. On asking her she told her husband that she had no jewellery
policy with her gown. He suggested that perhaps she could borrow something from her
friend Jeanne Forestier. Jeanne heard her story of distress and she generously opened her
box of jewels. Matilda borrowed a sparkling diamond necklace.
Matilda and her husband attended the gala and had a great time. Matilda looked very pretty,
elegant, and graceful. Everyone at the party noticed her and they all wanted to be introduced
to her. She was so glorified by her beauty that she became very careless. They arrived home
in the early hours of the morning. When Matilda viewed her glory in the mirror, she realized
the necklace was missing. They searched for it everywhere in the house. They wondered if it
fell in the cab that brought them home but neither of them noticed the number. Matilda’s
husband went out to search the streets but returned empty-handed. He also went to the
policeman and to the cab offices to raise a complaint. He advertised in the newspaper and
offered a reward. To buy some time from Jeanne, Matilda wrote a letter that she broke the
clasp of the necklace and so she sent it for repair. In the meantime, they found a similar kind
of necklace. The cost of the necklace was thirty-six thousand francs. Her husband inherited
eighteen thousand francs from his father and he borrowed the rest of the amount from the
moneylenders. Finally, they purchased the necklace and Matilda gave it to Jeanne who did
not care to look at it.
Matilda’s life changed dramatically in the next ten years. They moved to a much smaller
apartment where she cooked and cleaned herself. Her husband did multiple jobs and she also
did other work to pay all the money they had borrowed. After ten years, they were able to
pay all the money back but by then Matilda had aged a lot.
One day, Matilda met Jeanne Forestier. She decided to confess the truth about the necklace.
Jeanne was surprised to see Matilda’s state. Matilda told her that she had lost the necklace
that she borrowed from her and had to pay a huge amount for the replacement. Jeanne was
shocked to hear the entire story behind the necklace and she confessed that the necklace
Matilda borrowed was a fake, which was not more than worth five hundred francs.
The Necklace
BY Guy de Maupassant
She was one of those pretty and charming girls born, as though fate had blundered over her, into a family of
artisans. She had no marriage portion, no expectations, no means of getting known, understood, loved, and wedded
by a man of wealth and distinction; and she let herself be married off to a little clerk in the Ministry of Education. Her
tastes were simple because she had never been able to afford any other, but she was as unhappy as though she had
married beneath her; for women have no caste or class, their beauty, grace, and charm serving them for birth or
family, their natural delicacy, their instinctive elegance, their nimbleness of wit, are their only mark of rank, and put
the slum girl on a level with the highest lady in the land.
She suffered endlessly, feeling herself born for every delicacy and luxury. She suffered from the poorness of her
house, from its mean walls, worn chairs, and ugly curtains. All these things, of which other women of her class would
not even have been aware, tormented and insulted her. The sight of the little Breton girl who came to do the work in
her little house aroused heart-broken regrets and hopeless dreams in her mind. She imagined silent antechambers,
heavy with Oriental tapestries, lit by torches in lofty bronze sockets, with two tall footmen in knee-breeches sleeping
in large arm-chairs, overcome by the heavy warmth of the stove. She imagined vast saloons hung with antique silks,
exquisite pieces of furniture supporting priceless ornaments, and small, charming, perfumed rooms, created just for
little parties of intimate friends, men who were famous and sought after, whose homage roused every other woman's
envious longings.
When she sat down for dinner at the round table covered with a three-days-old cloth, opposite her husband, who
took the cover off the soup-tureen, exclaiming delightedly: "Aha! Scotch broth! What could be better?" she imagined
delicate meals, gleaming silver, tapestries peopling the walls with folk of a past age and strange birds in faery forests;
she imagined delicate food served in marvellous dishes, murmured gallantries, listened to with an inscrutable smile as
one trifled with the rosy flesh of trout or wings of asparagus chicken.
She had no clothes, no jewels, nothing. And these were the only things she loved; she felt that she was made for
them. She had longed so eagerly to charm, to be desired, to be wildly attractive and sought after.
She had a rich friend, an old school friend whom she refused to visit, because she suffered so keenly when she
returned home. She would weep whole days, with grief, regret, despair, and misery.
*
One evening her husband came home with an exultant air, holding a large envelope in his hand.
"Here's something for you," he said.
Swiftly she tore the paper and drew out a printed card on which were these words:
"The Minister of Education and Madame Ramponneau request the pleasure of the company of Monsieur and
Madame Loisel at the Ministry on the evening of Monday, January the 18th."
Instead of being delighted, as her husband hoped, she flung the invitation petulantly across the table, murmuring:
"What do you want me to do with this?"
"Why, darling, I thought you'd be pleased. You never go out, and this is a great occasion. I had tremendous
trouble to get it. Every one wants one; it's very select, and very few go to the clerks. You'll see all the really big
people there."
She looked at him out of furious eyes, and said impatiently: "And what do you suppose I am to wear at such an
affair?"
He had not thought about it; he stammered:
"Why, the dress you go to the theatre in. It looks very nice, to me . . ."
He stopped, stupefied and utterly at a loss when he saw that his wife was beginning to cry. Two large tears ran
slowly down from the corners of her eyes towards the corners of her mouth.
"What's the matter with you? What's the matter with you?" he faltered.
But with a violent effort she overcame her grief and replied in a calm voice, wiping her wet cheeks:
"Nothing. Only I haven't a dress and so I can't go to this party. Give your invitation to some friend of yours whose
wife will be turned out better than I shall."
He was heart-broken.
"Look here, Mathilde," he persisted. "What would be the cost of a suitable dress, which you could use on other
occasions as well, something very simple?"
She thought for several seconds, reckoning up prices and also wondering for how large a sum she could ask
without bringing upon herself an immediate refusal and an exclamation of horror from the careful-minded clerk.
At last she replied with some hesitation:
"I don't know exactly, but I think I could do it on four hundred francs."
He grew slightly pale, for this was exactly the amount he had been saving for a gun, intending to get a little
shooting next summer on the plain of Nanterre with some friends who went lark-shooting there on Sundays.
Nevertheless he said: "Very well. I'll give you four hundred francs. But try and get a really nice dress with the
money."
The day of the party drew near, and Madame Loisel seemed sad, uneasy and anxious. Her dress was ready,
however. One evening her husband said to her:
"What's the matter with you? You've been very odd for the last three days."
"I'm utterly miserable at not having any jewels, not a single stone, to wear," she replied. "I shall look absolutely
no one. I would almost rather not go to the party."
"Wear flowers," he said. "They're very smart at this time of the year. For ten francs you could get two or three
gorgeous roses."
She was not convinced.
"No . . . there's nothing so humiliating as looking poor in the middle of a lot of rich women."
"How stupid you are!" exclaimed her husband. "Go and see Madame Forestier and ask her to lend you some
jewels. You know her quite well enough for that."
She uttered a cry of delight.
"That's true. I never thought of it."
Next day she went to see her friend and told her her trouble.
Madame Forestier went to her dressing-table, took up a large box, brought it to Madame Loisel, opened it, and
said:
"Choose, my dear."
First she saw some bracelets, then a pearl necklace, then a Venetian cross in gold and gems, of exquisite
workmanship. She tried the effect of the jewels before the mirror, hesitating, unable to make up her mind to leave
them, to give them up. She kept on asking:
"Haven't you anything else?"
"Yes. Look for yourself. I don't know what you would like best."
Suddenly she discovered, in a black satin case, a superb diamond necklace; her heart began to beat covetously.
Her hands trembled as she lifted it. She fastened it round her neck, upon her high dress, and remained in ecstasy at
sight of herself.
Then, with hesitation, she asked in anguish:
"Could you lend me this, just this alone?"
"Yes, of course."
She flung herself on her friend's breast, embraced her frenziedly, and went away with her treasure. The day of the
party arrived. Madame Loisel was a success. She was the prettiest woman present, elegant, graceful, smiling, and
quite above herself with happiness. All the men stared at her, inquired her name, and asked to be introduced to her.
All the Under-Secretaries of State were eager to waltz with her. The Minister noticed her.
She danced madly, ecstatically, drunk with pleasure, with no thought for anything, in the triumph of her beauty, in
the pride of her success, in a cloud of happiness made up of this universal homage and admiration, of the desires she
had aroused, of the completeness of a victory so dear to her feminine heart.
She left about four o'clock in the morning. Since midnight her husband had been dozing in a deserted little room,
in company with three other men whose wives were having a good time. He threw over her shoulders the garments
he had brought for them to go home in, modest everyday clothes, whose poverty clashed with the beauty of the balldress. She
was conscious of this and was anxious to hurry away, so that she should not be noticed by the other
women putting on their costly furs.
Loisel restrained her.
"Wait a little. You'll catch cold in the open. I'm going to fetch a cab."
But she did not listen to him and rapidly descended the staircase. When they were out in the street they could not
find a cab; they began to look for one, shouting at the drivers whom they saw passing in the distance.
They walked down towards the Seine, desperate and shivering. At last they found on the quay one of those old
nightprowling carriages which are only to be seen in Paris after dark, as though they were ashamed of their
shabbiness in the daylight.
It brought them to their door in the Rue des Martyrs, and sadly they walked up to their own apartment. It was the
end, for her. As for him, he was thinking that he must be at the office at ten.
She took off the garments in which she had wrapped her shoulders, so as to see herself in all her glory before the
mirror. But suddenly she uttered a cry. The necklace was no longer round her neck!
"What's the matter with you?" asked her husband, already half undressed.
She turned towards him in the utmost distress.
"I . . . I . . . I've no longer got Madame Forestier's necklace. . . ."
He started with astonishment.
"What! . . . Impossible!"
They searched in the folds of her dress, in the folds of the coat, in the pockets, everywhere. They could not find it.
"Are you sure that you still had it on when you came away from the ball?" he asked.
"Yes, I touched it in the hall at the Ministry."
"But if you had lost it in the street, we should have heard it fall."
"Yes. Probably we should. Did you take the number of the cab?"
"No. You didn't notice it, did you?"
"No."
They stared at one another, dumbfounded. At last Loisel put on his clothes again.
"I'll go over all the ground we walked," he said, "and see if I can't find it."
And he went out. She remained in her evening clothes, lacking strength to get into bed, huddled on a chair,
without volition or power of thought.
Her husband returned about seven. He had found nothing.
He went to the police station, to the newspapers, to offer a reward, to the cab companies, everywhere that a ray
of hope impelled him.
She waited all day long, in the same state of bewilderment at this fearful catastrophe.
Loisel came home at night, his face lined and pale; he had discovered nothing.
"You must write to your friend," he said, "and tell her that you've broken the clasp of her necklace and are getting
it mended. That will give us time to look about us."
She wrote at his dictation.
*
By the end of a week they had lost all hope.
Loisel, who had aged five years, declared:
"We must see about replacing the diamonds."
Next day they took the box which had held the necklace and went to the jewellers whose name was inside. He
consulted his books.
"It was not I who sold this necklace, Madame; I must have merely supplied the clasp."
Then they went from jeweller to jeweller, searching for another necklace like the first, consulting their memories,
both ill with remorse and anguish of mind.
In a shop at the Palais-Royal they found a string of diamonds which seemed to them exactly like the one they
were looking for. It was worth forty thousand francs. They were allowed to have it for thirty-six thousand.
They begged the jeweller not to sell it for three days. And they arranged matters on the understanding that it
would be taken back for thirty-four thousand francs, if the first one were found before the end of February.
Loisel possessed eighteen thousand francs left to him by his father. He intended to borrow the rest.
He did borrow it, getting a thousand from one man, five hundred from another, five louis here, three louis there.
He gave notes of hand, entered into ruinous agreements, did business with usurers and the whole tribe of moneylenders. He
mortgaged the whole remaining years of his existence, risked his signature without even knowing if he
could honour it, and, appalled at the agonising face of the future, at the black misery about to fall upon him, at the
prospect of every possible physical privation and moral torture, he went to get the new necklace and put down upon
the jeweller's counter thirty-six thousand francs.
When Madame Loisel took back the necklace to Madame Forestier, the latter said to her in a chilly voice:
"You ought to have brought it back sooner; I might have needed it."
She did not, as her friend had feared, open the case. If she had noticed the substitution, what would she have
thought? What would she have said? Would she not have taken her for a thief?
*
Madame Loisel came to know the ghastly life of abject poverty. From the very first she played her part heroically. This
fearful debt must be paid off. She would pay it. The servant was dismissed. They changed their flat; they took a
garret under the roof.
She came to know the heavy work of the house, the hateful duties of the kitchen. She washed the plates, wearing
out her pink nails on the coarse pottery and the bottoms of pans. She washed the dirty linen, the shirts and dishcloths, and hung
them out to dry on a string; every morning she took the dustbin down into the street and carried up
the water, stopping on each landing to get her breath. And, clad like a poor woman, she went to the fruiterer, to the
grocer, to the butcher, a basket on her arm, haggling, insulted, fighting for every wretched halfpenny of her money.
Every month notes had to be paid off, others renewed, time gained.
Her husband worked in the evenings at putting straight a merchant's accounts, and often at night he did copying
at twopence-halfpenny a page.
And this life lasted ten years.
At the end of ten years everything was paid off, everything, the usurer's charges and the accumulation of
superimposed interest.
Madame Loisel looked old now. She had become like all the other strong, hard, coarse women of poor households.
Her hair was badly done, her skirts were awry, her hands were red. She spoke in a shrill voice, and the water slopped
all over the floor when she scrubbed it. But sometimes, when her husband was at the office, she sat down by the
window and thought of that evening long ago, of the ball at which she had been so beautiful and so much admired.
What would have happened if she had never lost those jewels. Who knows? Who knows? How strange life is, how
fickle! How little is needed to ruin or to save!
One Sunday, as she had gone for a walk along the Champs-Elysees to freshen herself after the labours of the
week, she caught sight suddenly of a woman who was taking a child out for a walk. It was Madame Forestier, still
young, still beautiful, still attractive.
Madame Loisel was conscious of some emotion. Should she speak to her? Yes, certainly. And now that she had
paid, she would tell her all. Why not?
She went up to her. "Good morning, Jeanne."
The other did not recognise her, and was surprised at being thus familiarly addressed by a poor woman. "But . . .
Madame . . ." she stammered. "I don't know . . . you must be making a mistake."
"No . . . I am Mathilde Loisel."
Her friend uttered a cry. "Oh! . . . my poor Mathilde, how you have changed! . . ."
"Yes, I've had some hard times since I saw you last; and many sorrows . . . and all on your account."
"On my account! . . . How was that?"
"You remember the diamond necklace you lent me for the ball at the Ministry?"
"Yes. Well?"
"Well, I lost it."
"How could you? Why, you brought it back."
"I brought you another one just like it. And for the last ten years we have been paying for it. You realise it wasn't
easy for us; we had no money. . . . Well, it's paid for at last, and I'm glad indeed."
Madame Forestier had halted. "You say you bought a diamond necklace to replace mine?"
"Yes. You hadn't noticed it? They were very much alike." And she smiled in proud and innocent happiness.
Madame Forestier, deeply moved, took her two hands. "Oh, my poor Mathilde! But mine was imitation. It was
worth at the very most five hundred francs! . . . "
The Taximan's Story
by Catherine Lim
"The Taxi Man's Story" is a short story by Catherine Lim, a Singaporean author known for her
insightful and often poignant portrayals of life in Singapore. The story was first published in
1993 as part of her collection titled "Or Else, The Lightning God & Other Stories."
In this story, Lim explores the life of a taxi driver in Singapore, offering a glimpse into the
challenges and struggles faced by ordinary people in the city-state. The narrative is told from
the perspective of the taxi driver, who recounts his encounters with various passengers and
reflects on his own life experiences.
Lim's writing style in "The Taxi Man's Story" is characterized by its realism and attention to
detail. She creates a vivid portrait of Singaporean society, touching on themes such as class,
race, and social inequality. Through the taxi driver's interactions with his passengers, Lim
explores the complexities of human relationships and the impact of social dynamics on
individual lives.
Overall, "The Taxi Man's Story" is a powerful and moving narrative that showcases Lim's
talent for storytelling and her ability to capture the essence of life in Singapore. Through her
writing, Lim invites readers to empathize with her characters and to reflect on the deeper
issues that shape society.
Summary:
"The Taxi Man's Story" by Catherine Lim is a short story that offers a glimpse into the life of
a taxi driver in Singapore. The story is narrated from the perspective of the taxi driver himself
as he goes about his daily routine of picking up and dropping off passengers.
Through his interactions with passengers from various walks of life, the taxi driver reflects
on his own life and the struggles he faces. He shares anecdotes about the different people he
meets, from the wealthy and privileged to the downtrodden and marginalized.
As the story unfolds, it becomes clear that the taxi driver is a keen observer of human nature
and society. He offers insights into the complexities of life in Singapore, touching on themes
such as social class, race, and identity.
"The Taxi Man's Story" is a poignant and thought-provoking narrative that shines a light on
the often-overlooked lives of taxi drivers and the challenges they face. Through her
storytelling, Lim invites readers to consider the human stories behind the faces we encounter
every day.
Prayer of the Hungry
by Willibrordus Surendra Broto Rendra
"Prayer of the Hungry" is a poem by Willibrordus Surendra, a poet from Indonesia. However,
there is limited information available about Surendra, and the specific year in which "Prayer
of the Hungry" was written is not readily accessible.
The poem itself is likely to reflect themes of hunger, both literal and metaphorical, as
suggested by the title. It may explore the experiences of longing, desire, and emptiness, using
hunger as a metaphor for unfulfilled needs or aspirations. Surendra's writing style is
expected to be expressive and evocative, aiming to evoke deep emotions and contemplation
in the reader.
While I can't provide a detailed analysis without the text of the poem, this summary gives a
general idea of what to expect from "Prayer of the Hungry" by Willibrordus Surendra.
Prayer of the Hungry
by Willibrordus Surendra Broto Rendra
HUNGER is a smooth black
crow.
Millions of crows
like a black cloud.
O God!
How terrifying crows are.
And hunger is a black crow.
Continually terrifying.
Hunger is rebellion.
Is the mysterious force
moving the murderer’s knife
in the hand of the poor.
Hunger is coral rocks
beneath the sleeping face of the sea.
Is tears of deceit.
Is the betrayal of honour.
a strong young man crying
To see his own hands
lay honour down
because of hunger.
Hunger is a devil
Hunger is a devil offering dictatorship.
O God!
Hunger is black hands
putting handfuls of alum
into the stomach of the poor.
O God!
We kneel.
Our eyes are Your eyes.
This is Your mouth.
This is Your heart.
And this is Your stomach.
Your stomach hungers, O God.
Your stomach hews alum
and broken glass.
O God!
How nice a plate of rice,
a bowl of soup and a cup of coffee would be.
O God!
Hunger is a crow.
millions of black crows
like a black cloud
blotting out my view
of Your heaven.
Africa
By David Diop
David Diop, a Senegalese poet, was born in 1927 in Bordeaux, France, to a Senegalese father
and Cameroonian mother. He is celebrated for his powerful poetry that addresses themes of
African identity, colonialism, and liberation struggles.
In "Africa," Diop's most famous poem, he passionately expresses his love for Africa and his
desire for its freedom and dignity. The poem is written in the form of a lament, mourning the
suffering endured by Africa under the yoke of colonial oppression.
Diop's writing style in "Africa" is characterized by its vivid imagery, rhythmic language, and
emotive tone. He employs powerful metaphors and evocative language to convey the depth
of his feelings for Africa and his longing for its liberation.
Throughout his work, Diop draws on his own experiences as a person of African descent
living in a colonial context. His poetry reflects his commitment to the struggle for African
independence and his belief in the power of literature to inspire social change.
Overall, David Diop's "Africa" is a passionate and stirring ode to the continent and its people.
Through his poetry, Diop invites readers to confront the injustices of colonialism and to
envision a future of freedom and dignity for Africa.
Africa
By David Diop
Africa my Africa
Africa of proud warriors in ancestral savannahs
Africa of whom my grandmother sings
On the banks of the distant river
I have never known you
But your blood flows in my veins
Your beautiful black blood that irrigates the fields
The blood of your sweat
The sweat of your work
The work of your slavery
Africa, tell me Africa
Is this your back that is unbent
This back that never breaks under the weight of humilation
This back trembling with red scars
And saying no to the whip under the midday sun
But a grave voice answers me
Impetuous child that tree, young and strong
That tree over there
Splendidly alone amidst white and faded flowers
That is your Africa springing up anew
springing up patiently, obstinately
Whose fruit bit by bit acquires
The bitter taste of liberty.
Down with the forest
by Charles Kuralt
"Down with the Forest" is a poem by Charles Kuralt, an American journalist and writer best
known for his long career at CBS News, where he was a correspondent for "CBS Evening
News" and host of the long-running series "On the Road." Born in 1934 in North Carolina,
Kuralt was known for his folksy storytelling style and his ability to capture the essence of
American life.
In "Down with the Forest," Kuralt uses vivid imagery and lyrical language to convey the
beauty and majesty of the natural world. The poem celebrates the forest as a place of wonder
and enchantment, where one can escape the noise and chaos of the modern world and find
solace in nature.
Kuralt's writing style is characterized by its simplicity and sincerity. He has a knack for
finding beauty in the everyday and for conveying a sense of awe and wonder at the world
around him.
Overall, "Down with the Forest" is a tribute to the power and beauty of nature, as seen
through the eyes of a writer who had a deep appreciation for the natural world. Through his
poetry, Kuralt invites readers to pause and reflect on the importance of preserving our
natural environment for future generations.
Of Studies
By Francis Bacon
"Of Studies" is an essay written by Francis Bacon, an English philosopher, statesman,
scientist, and author, in the late 16th century. Bacon is often regarded as one of the pioneers
of the scientific method and is known for his contributions to philosophy and literature
during the Renaissance period.
In "Of Studies," Bacon employs a straightforward and persuasive writing style to discuss the
benefits and importance of education and learning. He presents a series of arguments in
favor of studying, highlighting its various advantages such as providing delight, ornament,
and ability. Bacon also emphasizes the practical benefits of studying, including its role in
improving judgment, wit, and conversation skills.
Bacon's prose is characterized by its clarity and precision, making complex ideas accessible
to a wide audience. He uses logical reasoning and examples drawn from history and everyday
life to support his arguments, lending credibility to his assertions.
Summary:
Highlighting the importance of studies, Bacon’s essay illustrates the role studies play in an
individual’s daily life. For Bacon, the study is always related to the application of knowledge
in
practical life.
At the beginning of his essay, Bacon describes the three main purposes of study including
studying
for gaining delight, studies done for ornamenting one’s life and studying in order to improve
one’s
ability.
The author is the notion that only learned and well-read men can execute plans effectively,
manage
their daily affairs with expertise and lead a healthy and stable life. He further states that
reading
makes a full man; conference leads to a ready man while writing makes an exact man.
While throwing light on the advantages and usefulness of studies, Bacon also puts forward
some
demerits of study as he thinks that studying for a prolonged period of time may lead to
laziness.
He also condemns the act of studying from books solely without learning from nature around.
The
essay Of Studies further asserts the benefits of studies by considering this act as a medicine
for the
defects of the human mind and the source of enhancing one’s wit.
While discussing the importance of studying in an individual’s life, the essayist informs his
readers
about the benefits of reading good books.
For Bacon, some books are only meant to be tasted; others are there to swallow while some
books
are meant for chewing and digesting properly. Therefore, the readers must choose wisely
before
studying any book to enhance his/her knowledge about the world around.
Of Studies
– Francis Bacon
Studies, according to the English essayist Francis Bacon, enhance the knowledge of man. Man can sharpen his
intellect and improve his skills by focusing on studies. A prudent person learns from books on different subjects.
Studies mould the character of human beings. Education and experiences of life enable human intellect to attain
perfection. Francis Bacon's essay 'Of Studies' is about the importance of reading/studies. Bacon discusses the
purpose, method and benefits of reading in the essay. He believes that logic must safeguard and guide the methodical
acquisition of knowledge. Reading, he opines, is essential to learning. Bacon contends that a study in diverse
disciplines of knowledge not only equips a person for his professional life but also enables him to eliminate defects
of the mind, like biases, prejudices, low analytical abilities, intellectual incompetence. He asserts that studies/reading
empower a person and give him intellectual, moral and spiritual perfection. Bacon's essay removes wrong notions
about reading and education prevalent in the Sixteenth century England. He believes that human beings do not just
study for lucre/profit/profession but for development /evolution of mind.
Francis Bacon asserts that studies serve three purposes. Human beings derive pleasure from studies when they read
in moments of leisure. Man also enjoys reading in loneliness as it gives him relaxation. Reading of different books
enhances the communication skills of a person. It helps a person to learn nuances and correct usage of language
that enable him converse properly and improve his speaking skills. Reading enables a man to embellish his style of
speaking. Reading/studies provide prime assistance in earning livelihood. An educated man can apply the knowledge
gained through studies in his profession.A sound knowledge of the subject, acquired over a period of time, makes
him competent in professional life. Bacon discusses the role of age/maturity, experience and learning in making a
person wise. Though age and maturity enable men to execute plans, learned men can guide and judge in a better
manner. The subject/domain knowledge gives the learned men an upper hand to judge a situation or execute a
plan.
Francis Bacon alludes to the flaws of using studies in an improper/inappropriate manner. He claims that
spending a lot of time on reading reflects laziness (and inattentiveness). He believes that excessive use of bookish
knowledge in speech is pretence. Anyone who uses high-flown words or jargon in excess to impress others sounds
strange. Nobody appreciates such pretence or idiosyncrasy. He also draws attention to the folly of excessive usage of
the theoretical knowledge in real life situations. Anyone who tries judging cases or situations totally by rules of
books will face challenges or failure. Bacon also talks about the presence of innate knowledge in men. Every human
being by nature is capable of thinking but his thoughts are suffused with flaws and excesses. Bacon focuses on the
fact that the natural knowledge requires perfection. The innate knowledge blends with experiences to give
perfection. Just as plants require pruning for proper development, human beings must shape and sharpen their
intellect by fusing the lessons learnt from experiences with studies/reading to attain perfection. When experiences
supplement innate abilities, the fallacy of exceeding limits and holding biased opinions can be rectified. Reading
gives a sense to discern things properly and to adhere to limits (to achieve moderation). Human brain and mind have
inadequacies because of which certain concepts or things elude man’s comprehension. The vagueness in knowledge,
asserts Bacon, can be checked by selective studies. A focused study of a subject can eliminate doubts and
misconceptions. Nature and nurture have a great role in rationalizing human mind.
Bacon observes that deceitful men condemn studies. They rely more upon wrong practices and cunning ways to
achieve their goals. Humble/simple men admire studies because they owe their understanding to books. Wise men
use the knowledge gained from reading books. Reading or book cannot teach its use or utility to men. Men acquire
knowledge by reading books, by observing the world and by applying insights to practical situations. The knowledge
man gains by reading should not be used to contradict or refute. Books should not be equated to gospel or rigid rule
or be misinterpreted. Man must not read books to find topics for discussion or argumentation. He must rather read
to develop his analytical abilities (weigh facts rationally).
Bacon also explains the process of reading in this essay. Books with diverse content require different style of reading.
He contends that a few books require a cursory reading. Such books that are not of much concern to a reader can be
quickly sifted. This kind of reading gives basic information to the reader. When reader wants to gain deep meaning,
s/he requires great diligence. The reader can either concentrate on parts of book/read with little attention or read
carefully according to his requirements. For matters of lesser interest/significance, assistance for reading can be
taken or extracts/summary can be read. Incase the print version of book is of low quality reader pays less attention.
Low standard, oversimplified, inferior translation and flashy publication should not be of any interest to many
readers. Therefore, readers must carefully select the appropriate book/version of text for reading.
Bacon discusses the uses of reading in 'Of Studies'. Reading makes man knowledgeable. Discussion on the read topics
gives a person confidence to explain those to others in a better way. Whenever one confers, it makes one articulate.
Writing sharpens memory and gives exactness to a person. Man can retrieve written ideas better. Writing
commits lessons to memory. If a person writes little, he must have good memory. If a person confers little, he must
be witty. If a person reads little, he must maintain a facade of wisdom. Reading, conferring and writing make a person
wise. Bacon elaborates upon the use of studying different subjects. Knowledge of history makes men wise. Those
who do not learn lessons from history repeat mistakes and worsen their present and future. Reading of poetry,
according to Bacon, makes one witty. Poetry acquaints men with universal issues and enables them to understand
their present. Mathematics makes a person prudent and skillful. The subject of philosophy deepens intellect. Lessons
in morality make man responsible. Once a person learns to balance his rights and duties he becomes a good citizen.
Logic and rhetoric make a person assertive. Reading of different subjects moulds personality. The innate abilities and
wit can be sharpened through selective reading.
It is a well-known fact that a sound mind resides in a sound body. Various diseases can be cured by different exercises.
Just as ailments of the body can be treated by appropriate exercises, wit can be improved and freed of flaws by
reading. Bowling is good for reins, shooting for lungs, walking for stomach and riding for head. One must study
Mathematics to control one's wandering mind. The mathematical problems train one to improve one's
concentration – a slight error results in wrong solution for which one has to begin again. The ways of schoolmen /
professors / theologians train intellect to analyze minute details and to infer properly. One can learn from the
lawyer's cases a way to prove facts by using precedents. Wandering wit, lack of concentration, biases, prejudices and
other fallacies of the mind can be cured through reading of books on diverse subjects. Reading improves memory,
enhances knowledge/skills, relaxes mind and makes man wise. Reading helps individuals understand self,
others/environment, think constructively, analyze attitudes/problems, assist people and make adjustments for a
meaningful existence. Hence, studies are highly beneficial for men.
Hamlet
By William Shakespeare
"Hamlet" is a tragedy written by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written between
1599 and 1601. It tells the story of Prince Hamlet of Denmark, who is visited by the ghost of
his father, the king, who tells him that he was murdered by his brother Claudius, Hamlet's
uncle, who has now married the queen. Hamlet decides to seek revenge, but his indecision
and contemplative nature lead to tragic consequences.
Shakespeare's writing in "Hamlet" is characterized by its rich language, complex characters,
and exploration of deep philosophical and psychological themes. The play is renowned for
its exploration of themes such as revenge, madness, and the nature of existence.
Shakespeare's use of language, including his famous soliloquies, has made "Hamlet" one of
his most celebrated works.
Overall, "Hamlet" is a masterpiece of English literature, showcasing Shakespeare's
unparalleled skill in creating complex characters and exploring profound themes. The play
remains one of the most widely studied and performed works in the English language.
Summary:
The play begins with the appearance of the ghost of King Hamlet, the recently deceased king
of Denmark, on the battlements of Elsinore Castle. The ghost tells Prince Hamlet, the king's
son, that he was murdered by his brother Claudius, who has since married Queen Gertrude,
Hamlet's mother. The ghost urges Hamlet to seek revenge.
Hamlet is deeply disturbed by this revelation and vows to avenge his father's death. However,
he is unsure of the ghost's reliability and worries about the moral implications of killing
Claudius. To gather more information, Hamlet feigns madness, which allows him to observe
Claudius and Gertrude without arousing suspicion.
As Hamlet investigates, he becomes increasingly conflicted and struggles with his own
indecision. He also grapples with existential questions about life, death, and the afterlife,
famously expressed in his soliloquy "To be, or not to be."
Meanwhile, Claudius becomes suspicious of Hamlet's behavior and plots to have him killed.
He arranges for Hamlet to be sent to England with Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, two of
Hamlet's friends, carrying a letter instructing the English king to execute Hamlet. However,
Hamlet discovers the plot and changes the letter to ensure the deaths of Rosencrantz and
Guildenstern instead.
Back in Denmark, Ophelia, Hamlet's love interest, goes mad after her father Polonius is killed
by Hamlet, who mistakes him for Claudius. Ophelia drowns herself, and her brother Laertes
vows revenge against Hamlet.
The climax of the play occurs at a fencing match arranged by Claudius, where Laertes and
Hamlet are to duel. Unknown to Hamlet, Laertes' sword is tipped with poison. During the
match, both men are wounded with the poisoned sword, and Gertrude accidentally drinks
from a cup of poisoned wine intended for Hamlet. In the ensuing chaos, Hamlet manages to
wound Laertes with the poisoned sword before discovering that Claudius is also responsible
for Gertrude's death. Hamlet kills Claudius, fulfilling his vow of revenge but dying shortly
afterward from the poison.
The play ends with the deaths of the entire royal family of Denmark, leaving the throne open
for Fortinbras, the prince of Norway, to take over and restore order to the kingdom.
"Hamlet" is a complex and thought-provoking play that explores themes of revenge, madness,
and the nature of existence. It is widely regarded as one of Shakespeare's greatest works and
continues to be studied and performed around the world.