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Unit 18: Hazlitt-On The Importance of the Learned...

• But Hazlitt is no analytical Bacon, for his analysis and erudition are always tempered by a Notes
romantic and personal passion.
• He reproaches the ‘vulgarity’ and ‘violence’ of those who give nicknames. On the other hand,
he evidences his personal pathos and gentleness when he speaks of the endearing use of
nicknames by a man like Dr. Johnson who called Goldsmith ‘Goldy’. Hazlitt’s humour is
evident in the recounting of an anecdote about how an entire hall reverberated with the
name of ‘Dr. Topping’ when he initially failed to respond to his name.
• As for his prose, Hazlitt the romantic has a greater affinity with Wordsworth than with
Lamb. While Lamb is notorious for his idiosyncratic words and phrases, Hazlitt takes
meticulous care to render them comprehensible the deity. In his essay On Familiar Style he
objects to Dr. Johnson’s classical use of language for his tale, ‘opaque words’ and ‘words
with the greatest number of syllables’. His very beginning suggests the lucidity of his language.
• This is a more important subject than it seems at first sight. The variety of his sentence
construction is the other hand, evident in occasional complex structures: “What are one half
the convulsions of the civilized world-The frequent overthrow of states and kingdoms – the
shock and hostile encounters of mighty continents.” Here to quote few more lucid phrases:
“The art of pleasing consists in being pleased.
• In his essay “On the ignorance of the learned”, William Hazlitt says, about the learned
people, “He Knows as much of what he talks about, as a blind man does of colors.” Hazlitt
in his essay on the ‘Ignorance of the Learned’ teaches much the same doctrine. Its general
truth is indisputable, though Bagehot himself makes exception in favor of Sir Walter Scott.
But the two famous critics are united in their conviction that learned people are generally
dull, and that books which are the work of habitual writers are not amusing.

18.6 Key-Words

1. For the more : from Samuel Butler’s (1612 — 1680) Hudibras, a satire.
2. Chaldee : the language of Chaldeans
3. Syriac : language of ancient Syria, Western Aramic.
4. Lounger : Idler, one who saunters or strolls.
5. In his pocket : In the book which he keeps in his pocket.
6. Efface : remove, obliterate
7. Spectacles : media of vision
8. Puts him out : disconcerts, confuses, annoys, or irritates him.
18.7 Review Questions

1. Briefly explain the essay ‘On the Ignorance of the Learned.’
2. What are Hazlitt major works? Discuss.
Answers: Self-Assessment
1. (i)(a) (ii)(a) (iii)(d) (iv)(b)

18.8 Further Readings

1. P.S. Sastri, Hazlitt selected essays, Doaba House, Delhi.
2. Geoffrey Keynes, selected essays of William Hazlitt 1778 to 1830.

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