William Hazlitt: Selected Essays Summary

William Hazlitt: Selected Essays Summary

On The Fear Of Death

Here, in this essay, Hazlitt talks about the uncertainty of life and fear of death. In this mortal world, everything is going to be an end for sure. Hazlitt says that if someone lives his life with the fear of death, then he cannot enjoy his life.

The writer thought that our ancestors were braver than the modern people in the nineteenth century. They fought wars and lived their life without any fear of loss or death. Modern society makes people more fearful.

Hazlitt suggests the only way to get out of the fear of death is should always remember that everything is mortal in the world. We should not have fear of anything; instead, we should live and enjoy every moment.

On The Conduct Of Life

William Hazlitt wrote many essays On the conduct of life among them. The essay was published in Literary Remains of the Late William Hazlitt: With Notice of His Life in 1836. In the essay, Hazlitt describes a father's consent for his son.

At the start of the essay, a father writes a letter and tells his son that he is about to enter a new world. His son is about to be admitted to the school. He tells his son that he might not be able to support his son due to his health issues. The boy's father was worried about his child because the school's atmosphere was new for his son. The father advises his son on how he should behave in school and the world. His father tells him that his conduct is very important for his character.

On Nicknames

In the essay, William Hazlitt writes about the importance of nicknames. He writes that, in our history, nicknames play a very significant role. The subject of the essay may seem funny to the readers, but Hazlitt skillfully explains its presence in history.