Francis Bacon Life And Works (1561-1626)

Francis Bacon Life And Works (1561-1626)

Francis Bacon (1561-1626)

Francis Bacon, the Father of the English Essay, was born on January 22, 1561 in London. His father, Sir Nicholas Bacon, was Lord keeper of the Great Seal. Bacon was influenced from a very early age by the strong, narow Calvinistic beliefs and the classical knowledge of his mother Anne Cooke. When he was twelve years old, he was sent to Trinity College, Cambridge for higher education. Aristotelian philosophy disgusted him there. He could not pull on for more than a couple of years. So he left Cambridge without qualifying for a degree and returned to London for the study of Law. When Sir Amyas Paulet was appointed as English Ambassador to France in 1576, Bacon accompanied him as a Junior Secretary. He spent two years in Paris. On his return to London in 1578, he took to the study of law again. He joined the Bar in 1582. He entered Parliament in 1584. He took keen interest in politics for the rest of his life. His abilities soon marked him out as a prominent member there, but he was disappointed in his hopes of getting a good job through the influence of his uncle Lord Berghley. He made his path to advancement clear by betraying the cause of Essex at his trial by leading the prosecution of that unfortunate noble. Bacon rose high in honour and office as soon Queen Elizabeth's successor, James , ascended the throne. 

Francis Bacon was knighted in 1603. He became Solicitor General in 1607, and in 1613, he became Attorney General. He also received a considerable fortune by his marriage. He earned much money but his habits of extravagance always kept him in debt. He flattered the king assiduously, and in 1617 he became Lord Keeper. In the next year he became Lord Chancellor. But he misused his high position flagrantly by accepting bribes and presents. He was impeached, he pleaded guilty of bribery and threw himself on the mercy of the Judges. He was deprived of his state offices. He was imprisoned for life in the Tower and was fined £40,000. The king set him free the next day and remitted the fine. He retired in disgrace to his country residence and spent his life in scientific and literary pursuits. He is said to have fallen ill while engaged in scientific researches. He died in 1626. 

Bacon's works may be divided into three classes.

 (i) Philosophical- 

(A)The Advancement of Learning (1605).

 (B) The Novum Organum (1620), 

(C) The De Augments (1623). 

(ii) Literary Works- 

(a) Of Bacon's literary works, the most important are the, Essays first published in 1597 and issued in final form in 1625. 

(b) De Sapientia Veterum (1609)

 (c) Pophthegms New and Old (1624)

 (d) The New Atlantis (1626) 

(e) History of Henry the Seventh (1622). 

(iiI) Professional Works

 (a) Maxims of the Law 

(b) Reading on the Statute of Uses. 

Renaissance in Bacon's Essays 

 Bacon the man was the product of the Renaissance, Man's glory generous or tense, his opportunities of mind and body, his eye finely rolling across the subtlety and magnificence of the world, his joy in leaming, discovering, weighing, creating all this as it existed in Bacon's mind shifted through into the essays. The age of Bacon is the age of Renaissance or better called the age of Shakespeare. The term Renaissance means'rebirth'. It implies the great spiritual and intellectual awakening which marked the end of the middle ages and the advent of the modem world in all its varied aspects. For the first time since the extinction of the great Roman civilization in England following the awakening of Italy and France stirred from deep slumber of the spirit into which she had fallen because of ignorance of the past and the authority of the church. Superstitions credulity and witchcraft reigned supreme. Spirit of adventure was entirely absent. Blind faith in the powers of nature, black magic and phantoms were prevalent among the people. The end of the 15th century saw tremendous change coming over men's minds. This change had several phases or aspects: 

1. Revival of Learning- Greek scholars persecuted by Turks in Constantinople fled to italy where they brought their learning, art and science. taly became the fountainhead or centre of the new great learning. France, Germany and England sent their scholars to Italy in quest of this new Knowledge. They studied the elevating poetry of Homer, the philosophy of Plato and the science of Aristotle. They learnt Greek and Latin languages and literatures and came back home to enlighten their countrymen and infuse a new spirit into them.

 2. Humarism - The Re- discovery and Study of Past roman civilisation and culture led to a new interest in humanity. Life gained importance and value. It was no longer considered to be for more penance and suffering to get into heaven and attain etermal bliss. The world was regarded as something real and abiding and not transitory and trifling or unreal. There came into being an ideal practical man who exercised his reason and intellect upon art, science, literature and philosophy. He took interest in adventure and exploration. He developed his body for war and hunt. He was a perfect courtier and an ardent lover.

3. The Reformation - People brought their reason to bear on religion too. They no longer believed in dogmcs or doctrines of the church quite bindly. The Renaissance converted fanatics into liberal belk ers. Orthodoxy lost its way over men's minds. Authority of the Pop was defiec nd schism or separatism from Rome in religious Tatters was the natural result. Thus the English people were free not only politically but aiso from the yoke of the Roman Pope. Protestants came into prominence as a consequence of the reformation, or movement for reform in religion.

Nationalism - The Renaissance had its effect in the political world also. The people of England were inbued with a new spirit of nationality. They began to think themselves as English men firsti every relationship. This spirit was still more accentuated by her war with France and the victories she won over the enemies 

5. Discovery - Discovery and adventure was another aspect of the Renaissance. England was no longer ready to stay at home and remain lethargic. Columbus set out on his great and memorable voyage and discovered America. Vasco-de-Gama went round the Cape of Good Hope. They were followed by other adventurers who crossed the Atlantic ocean and returned home with wealth and wonders.

6. Printing-  The art of printing, the result of mental and intellectual awakening led to a rapid spread of education. It created a wide reading public and education came out of the narrow precincts of a few churches and progressed by leaps and bounds through schools established in every nook and corner of the country. Teaching was freed from religious influence of the church and became secular This multifarious influence of the Renaissance had its impact on literature. These new tendencies are evident in every poet and prose writer of merit. This new spirit is fully reflected in their writings. The literature of this period is marked by certain trends Imagination was replaced by realism. Fiction and falsity gave way to fact and truth. Exaggeration was no longer indulged in. Artificiality waš substituted by naturalness. Reason prevailed over credulity and blind faith. Search for truth or scientific enquiry was the dominant feature. Fanaticism gave way to liberality. Democratic and critical spirit became visible in every sphere of life. The religious faith was carefully analysed and timed. Honoured institutions were judged frankly and fearlessly, In short, literature began to convey facts. Bacon, Shakespeare, Ben Johnson, Burton, Delouy, Decker etc, all exhibited this spirit of the Renaissance with all its varied aspects in their works.