Page 82 - DENG502_PROSE

Prose Gowher Ahmad Naik, Lovely Professional University

Notes
Unit 9: Charles Lamb-A Bachelors Complaint on the
Behaviour of Married : Critical Appreciation

CONTENTS
Objectives
Introduction
9.1 Critical Appreciation
9.2 Summary
9.3 Key-Words
9.4 Review Questions
9.5 Further Readings

Objectives

After reading this Unit students will be able to:
• Know about Charles Lamb
• Examine Lamb’s essay ‘A Bachelors Complaint on the Behaviour of Married’

Introduction

Lamb was the son of Elizabeth Field and John Lamb. Lamb was the youngest child, with an 11
year older sister Mary, an even older brother John, and four other siblings who did.
Charles Lamb was an English essayist, best known for his Essays of Elia and for the children’s
book Tales from Shakespeare, which he produced with his sister, Mary Lamb. Lamb has been
referred to by E.V. Lucas, his principal biographer, as the most lovable figure in English literature.
Lamb was honoured by The Latymer School, a grammar school in Edmonton, a suburb of London
where he lived for a time; it has six houses, one of which, “Lamb”, is named after Charles.

Lamb offers personal anecdotes as well as hypothetical situations that illustrate
and support his points.

9.1 Critical Appreciation

Charles Lamb’s essay “A Bachelor’s Complaint of the Behavior of Married People” is just what the
title suggests: it is indeed “a bachelor’s complaint of the behavior of Married People.” Lamb
emphasizes his single status in the start of the essay”As a single man”and in doing so, separates
himself from the “Married People.” He talks about Married People as if they are despicable and
offensive and gives both hypothetical and personal examples to back up his points. He believes
that Married People “prefer one another to all the world” and openly flaunt it, thus offending
singles such as Lamb by implying that they “are not the object of this preference.” Furthermore,
Lamb believes that overall, singles are looked down onMarried People are undoubtedly more
favored and knowledgeable. The main complaint that Lamb is making throughout the whole

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