Summary
Bacon divides his essays into two types: civil and moral. Notable civil essays include "Of Death," "Of Seditions and Troubles," "Of Friendship," "Of Praise," and "Of Beauty."
In "Of Death," Bacon argues that men fear death the same way that children fear the dark, and that the fear is only increased by storytelling. Bacon perceives a fear of death as "weak," arguing that often death occurs with less pain than other experiences, like the loss of a limb (342).
Bacon argues that death has so many combatants on earth that no man should be afraid of it. Some of these combatants include revenge, love, honor, grief, and pity.
In "Of Seditions and Troubles," Bacon explains that all states are subject to "libels and licentious discourses" (366). He compares seditious speech to tempests that a ship must face, arguing that this type of discourse is most common when a civilization begins to approach a state of equality. Sedition stems from poverty and discontentment, and so states should strive to eliminate these things among their citizens.
In "Of Friendship," Bacon offers his praise of friendship as a human pursuit consecrated by God. He notes that just as there exists medicine for different organs in the body, friendship is a figurative "medicine" for the heart.
In "Of Praise," Bacon argues that praise is the "reflection of virtue," but that if praise is given by the common people it is likely false and worthless (442). He notes that praise from the common folk is synonymous with fame, and one should instead strive for praise from "persons of quality and judgment" (442).
In "Of Beauty," Bacon suggests that virtue is what creates beauty, not physical appearance. He notes that it is not always the case that virtuous people are also beautiful, and that beauty should instead be defined by "dignity of presence" (425). Physical beauty is, according to Bacon, dependent on the observer, and beauty of youth – though pleasant to see – is fleeting and cannot last.
Analysis
Bacon's civil essays address elements of human existence related to humanity as a civilization, such as socialization, governmental systems, and popular beliefs. While this guide divides the essays into moral and civil, it is important to note that Bacon himself does not. His complete essays are entitled Essays or Counsels, Moral and Civil, and he alternates freely between essays of the moral and civil nature. As such, Bacon implies that these "counsels" are all related to one another, and that his moral advice is inextricable from the civil and vice versa.
These civil essays, generally speaking, all tend to follow the same structure. They begin on a critical note, explaining how common perceptions or widely held beliefs are problematic or untrue. In his essay "Of Death," for example, Bacon argues that a fear of death – a common fear – is unwarranted. By comparing a fear of death to a child's fear of the dark, Bacon infantalizes those who would be afraid of dying, suggesting that they are lacking an important perspective on life and especially on God.
Similarly, in "Of Praise," Bacon dispels with the notion that fame is something to which men should aspire. Instead, he argues that fame is merely praise from those who do not understand true virtue, and is therefore meaningless in the grand scheme of life. Bacon's criticism of the "common people" in this essay, while certainly pejorative, emphasizes his belief that fame is something relegated only to society and that it does nothing to better or redeem one's soul.
One can witness Bacon's religious influence in the civil essays as well. He speaks frequently about virtue and its importance in shaping people's interactions with one another. In the essay "Of Friendship," Bacon argues that solitude is inherently antithetical to divine nature – that is, that pursuing friendships is in keeping with God's will. In "Of Beauty," he describes beauty as a divine quality rather than a physical one, a manifestation of one's commitment to virtue rather than an outward appearance.
In this way, the civil essays once again lead readers back to Bacon's moral perspective, which is defined first and foremost by his exaltation of Christianity.
