The Spectator Club by Richard Steele (Summary & Analysis)

 

The Spectator Club

by Richard Steele

(Summary & Analysis)

  

‘The Spectator Club’ is perhaps Steele’s finest achievement. This essay was published in The Spectator. The first essay in The Spectator was contributed by Addison. The second essay – The Spectator Club was Steele’s contribution. In this essay Steele has given an account of the members of the Club. These members represent important sections of society. Steele describes six of the members of the Club they are Sir Roger de Coverley, Captain Sentry, Sir Andrew Freeport, Will Honeycomb, the Clergyman and the Student of Law.

Richard Steele was born in Dublin, Ireland and educated at the Charter house and Oxford. He left before taking his degree and joined the army in 1694. In 1713 as a staunch Whig, he became the Member of Parliament. Steele owes his reputation to his effort as an essayist. The Tatler which he started in 1709, constitutes a landmark in English prose literature. Steele is sentimental and warm hearted, but always urbane. He has also a delicate sense of humour. Steele had knowledge of life and a sympathetic heart.

The first member of the club whom Steele introduces is Sir Roger de Coverley. He is "a gentleman of Worcestershire," and it is said that he has good sense and no enemies. In a way, he represents the idealized "gentleman" of upper-class English society at this time.

Steele then writes about "another bachelor," a member of the Inner Temple who is a man of great principles and wit who studies the stage and classical philosophers. He represents those in the upper class who do not understand matters of law or economics but are still well-read intellectuals.

The next member is Sir Andrew Freeport, a successful businessman from London. He is well-versed in economic matters and made his fortune himself. Because of his self-made success, he believes that "England may be richer than other kingdoms by as plain methods as he himself is richer than other men." He represents those in the upper class who felt that England's power should come through industry and not arms.

Then the reader learns about Captain Sentry, a brave military captain. Captain Sentry is someone who does not hold back at expressing his views about what makes a military man. He firmly believes that men can only be in the military if they "get over all false modesty," because holding back out of modesty is cowardice. He represents the idealized, upper-class military man whose bravery and commitment to his duty have made him successful and strong.

After Captain Sentry, Steele writes about Will Honeycomb. He is an old socialite who has always had easy access to money. He spends most of his time with women or engaged in what were considered to be women's interests, like fashion and gossip. Despite his age, he always seems to be the life of the party who can liven up any conversation. "Where women are not concerned, he is an honest worthy man," Steel writes. Honeycomb represents those in the upper class who were not concerned with serious business matters like Freeport but rather focused on their social lives.

Finally, Steele writes that there is another who seldom visits because of his poor health; but when he does, he is an enjoyable company. This is the clergyman, a "philosophic" man of "good breeding" who always speaks on divine topics with authority. He has a lot of followers and a positive attitude, despite his poor health. This representation depicts English clergymen as intellectual, caring people.