Dr. JOHNSON
BY Mrs. RANJANA GANGULY
Research Scholar, Lucknow University
Ex-Lecturer, Jubilee Girls’ College (Degree Section),
Lucknow.
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Dr. Johnson was a great talker. He had few equals to him in this respect, and perhaps none superior in his own age. Talking of the essentials of good conversation Johnson recommends the following:-
1. Knowledge
2. Style
3. Imagination, and
4. Wit.
His talk fulfilled all the four. His knowledge was vast right from classical poets like Homer and Virgil to poets of his days. He had read one and all and could quote them freely. He was not merely book-worm He illumined his knowledge with thought and experience. He had travelled enough and discussed customs and manners of the people of different ages and different countries. He was a great religious man. He had read scriptures with great devotion. This being a man of wide learning and experience the subject matter of his conversation had a variety of interests. It included marriage and celibacy, toleration in thought belief and action, savage life and civilised life, town life and country life, trade and commerce. Political and social problems of the day and many other problems of different types were the subjects of his thought. He could easily switch on from art to literature, from books to paints, from politics to religion and philosophy like Jawahar Lal Nehru Variety of interests was the key stone round which his conversation revolved. Besides being a mine of knowledge and information his interest was wide. Though not profound Variety killed dullness, the great killer of conversation.
The subject matter of talk he marshalled in a superb style, lie was a great artist. His conversation had no end beyond itself. He talked for the pleasure of talking He talked just as an artist paints for joy He knew talk is one thing an' preaching another. Such talk may not prove a thing to instruct but it delights, makes us feel we live and do not merely exist. After such talk we may not leave wiser but certainly happier. When Mrs. Siddons the celebrated actress called on Johnson there happened to be no ready chair for her, which he observing said with ready smile ''Madam you who so often occasion a want of seats to other people will the more easily excuse the want of one for yourself." This is an example of aptness of the situation. An embarrassing situation turned to advantage. His praise of Garrick shows his ability for the aptness of words "His death has eclipsed the gaiety of nations and diminished the stock of harmless pleasure."
Knowledge and style no doubt make a good conversation. To make it lively wit is required and in this Johnson stands supreme. His clash of wits made a conversation like a living fountain. A gentleman in support of Dr. Kerkeley's philosophy said "Nothing exists but as perceived by some mind". When he was going away Johnson said “Sir do not leave us; for we may perhaps forget to think of you and the you will cease to exist". But sometimes humour turned to devastating reply. When a gentleman said he did not understand him Johnson said, - “Sir, I have found an argument but I am not obliged to find you an understating". The ready wit made him formidable in retort and repartee winch go to make conversation fascinating and absorbing. Once in the course of conversation Boswell said that he did in deed come from Scotland but he could not help it. Johnson replied “That Sir, I find, is what a very great many of your countrymen can not help". In repartee he was unique. Once Ogilvie observed that Scotland had many noble wild prospects. Johnson at once replied "But, Sir, let me tell you the noblest prospect which a Scotchman ever sees is the high road that leads to England.”
Not only strikingly significant is quick wit retort and repartee his fertile imagination was also marvelous. How simply he once said "A cow is a very good animal in the field but people turn-her out of the garden".
Johnson loved to prick every bubble of pretension or pomposity. When Boswell said Johnson was neglecting his University teacher he humbly confessed that it was his insensibility. When a lady wondered how he could define pattern as the knee of a horse Johnson said “Ignorance Madam Ignorance". Never did he attempt to defend himself when he was wrong.
Thus we see to Johnson conversation was more a battle of wits than search for Truth. He always talked for victory and had a habit of contradiction. It is said when his pistol missed he knocked the opponent down with the butt end of it. "This rudeness instead of diminishing the importance of conversation added a flavour to it.
1. Knowledge
2. Style
3. Imagination, and
4. Wit.
His talk fulfilled all the four. His knowledge was vast right from classical poets like Homer and Virgil to poets of his days. He had read one and all and could quote them freely. He was not merely book-worm He illumined his knowledge with thought and experience. He had travelled enough and discussed customs and manners of the people of different ages and different countries. He was a great religious man. He had read scriptures with great devotion. This being a man of wide learning and experience the subject matter of his conversation had a variety of interests. It included marriage and celibacy, toleration in thought belief and action, savage life and civilised life, town life and country life, trade and commerce. Political and social problems of the day and many other problems of different types were the subjects of his thought. He could easily switch on from art to literature, from books to paints, from politics to religion and philosophy like Jawahar Lal Nehru Variety of interests was the key stone round which his conversation revolved. Besides being a mine of knowledge and information his interest was wide. Though not profound Variety killed dullness, the great killer of conversation.
The subject matter of talk he marshalled in a superb style, lie was a great artist. His conversation had no end beyond itself. He talked for the pleasure of talking He talked just as an artist paints for joy He knew talk is one thing an' preaching another. Such talk may not prove a thing to instruct but it delights, makes us feel we live and do not merely exist. After such talk we may not leave wiser but certainly happier. When Mrs. Siddons the celebrated actress called on Johnson there happened to be no ready chair for her, which he observing said with ready smile ''Madam you who so often occasion a want of seats to other people will the more easily excuse the want of one for yourself." This is an example of aptness of the situation. An embarrassing situation turned to advantage. His praise of Garrick shows his ability for the aptness of words "His death has eclipsed the gaiety of nations and diminished the stock of harmless pleasure."
Knowledge and style no doubt make a good conversation. To make it lively wit is required and in this Johnson stands supreme. His clash of wits made a conversation like a living fountain. A gentleman in support of Dr. Kerkeley's philosophy said "Nothing exists but as perceived by some mind". When he was going away Johnson said “Sir do not leave us; for we may perhaps forget to think of you and the you will cease to exist". But sometimes humour turned to devastating reply. When a gentleman said he did not understand him Johnson said, - “Sir, I have found an argument but I am not obliged to find you an understating". The ready wit made him formidable in retort and repartee winch go to make conversation fascinating and absorbing. Once in the course of conversation Boswell said that he did in deed come from Scotland but he could not help it. Johnson replied “That Sir, I find, is what a very great many of your countrymen can not help". In repartee he was unique. Once Ogilvie observed that Scotland had many noble wild prospects. Johnson at once replied "But, Sir, let me tell you the noblest prospect which a Scotchman ever sees is the high road that leads to England.”
Not only strikingly significant is quick wit retort and repartee his fertile imagination was also marvelous. How simply he once said "A cow is a very good animal in the field but people turn-her out of the garden".
Johnson loved to prick every bubble of pretension or pomposity. When Boswell said Johnson was neglecting his University teacher he humbly confessed that it was his insensibility. When a lady wondered how he could define pattern as the knee of a horse Johnson said “Ignorance Madam Ignorance". Never did he attempt to defend himself when he was wrong.
Thus we see to Johnson conversation was more a battle of wits than search for Truth. He always talked for victory and had a habit of contradiction. It is said when his pistol missed he knocked the opponent down with the butt end of it. "This rudeness instead of diminishing the importance of conversation added a flavour to it.
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