THE PHILOSOPHICAL SCROLL: SCHOLARLY INSIGHTS INTO THE INTRICATE PROSE WRITING OF FRANCIS BACON

Abstract

The essay, rooted in the French word "assayer" meaning "to attempt" or "to try," is a concise literary composition that revolves around a single subject, often reflecting the author's personal viewpoint. Aldous Huxley famously defined essays as a versatile literary device capable of addressing almost any topic. This paper focuses on the non-literary essay, exploring its various types and common characteristics, such as purpose, target audience, content, structure, and language usage. Specifically, it delves into the expository, descriptive, narrative, and persuasive essay types, examining how each conveys its message through distinct techniques.

Non-literary essays share similarities in terms of purpose, target audience, structure, and language use, yet they exhibit diversity in their respective subject matter. Essays serve multiple functions, including informing, persuading, explaining, and entertaining readers. By developing the analytical and intellectual faculties of both writers and readers, essays assess and strengthen writing skills while encouraging critical responses to issues. They foster the refinement of arguments in a sophisticated manner, motivating individuals to compare, contrast, and enhance clarity, exposition, conciseness, and persuasive elements.

This study analyzes the prose style of Francis Bacon, often hailed as the 'Father of English essays,' by closely examining three of his essays: "Of Studies," "Of Marriage and Single Life," and "Of Revenge." Bacon's essays possess unique characteristics that challenge conventional essay classifications. Employing an expositional form, this paper conducts a literary review to present factual insights from Bacon's essays, further supplementing the analysis with personal opinions. By exploring Bacon's prose writing style, this study sheds light on the artistic values of beauty, morality, and entertainment inherent in his works.