The Spectator Club by Richard Steele (Questions & Answers)

 

The Spectator Club

by Richard Steele

(Questions & Answers)

 

1.       Give a brief description of the members of the Spectator Club as given by Richard Steele in his essay.

-    Richard Steele’s finest achievement is possibly his essay entitled ‘The Spectator Club’ published in ‘The Spectator’ started by Joseph Addison. In the first essay Addison has given an account of The Spectator. All the essays in the periodical are supposed to be written by him. He is a member of the Club and the periodical is said to be run by the Club. Besides The Spectator, there were six other members of The Spectator Club.

Sir Roger de Coverley – He was the senior member of The Spectator Club. His great grandfather was the inventor of that famous country-dance which is called after him as Coverley dance. He was a man of extra ordinary nature and had a good sense. He never made any enemies because of his unusual nature. He had a unique capacity to please others. Sir Roger was a bachelor because he was disappointed in the love of a beautiful widow. Before this, Sir Roger was a normal happy young man. However, after being ill-used by the widow he lost all his joviality and interest in social life for more than a year. Gradually, he got over it. But this incident in his life made him careless of himself and his dress. He was a sincere gentleman and a great lover of mankind and was very much loved by everyone. He also treated his servants well. He was a justice of the quorum and showed his judicial abilities on the chair of the justice at a quarter-session.

The Lawyer - Next in importance to Sir Roger de Coverley was again a bachelor. He was a lawyer and a member of the Inner Temple. He studied law only because he was forced by his father to do so. He was also a bachelor. He was a man of sharp unit and clear understanding. He chose his occupation rather to obey the direction of his old father than to incline to his own wishes. He was more interested in the study of drama and dramatic criticism. The philosophers like Aristotle and Longinus were well understood by him. His father used to send to him, by every post, various questions on law in order to ensure his son’s progress in legal studies. The son outwitted the father by getting them answered through a lawyer whom he had engaged for the purpose. He was not looked upon as a fool, but only a few friends knew his real merit. He was familiar with the writings, customs, actions and manners of ancient writers, which made him a keen observer of the worldly affairs. He was a good critic of the stage and never missed any performance.

Sir Andrew Freeport – Sir Andrew Freeport was an eminent merchant of London, ranked next in importance. He was very laborious, experienced and had a great understanding. His knowledge of commerce was extensive. He had his own ideals of the ways of enlarging a country’s trade. He was of the opinion that a dominion may more be extended by art and industry than by power. Diligence or industry alone would help the country to gain things of permanent value, and sloth or idleness more than the sword had caused the ruin of many nations. He knew many short maxims. He had a unique art of speech. Since he had made his fortune himself, he believed that England too could become richer than other Kingdoms by methods, which had so benefited him.

Captain Sentry – Another important member of the Spectator Club was Captain Sentry. He sat next to Sir Andrew in the club-room. He was noted for his modesty and for his courage. He was very courageous, intelligent and had good understanding. He had won reputation for himself in the army and he fought bravely on fronts. But he left the army because even though he rendered meritorious service, which any one could see and appreciate, promotion did not come to him. He was of the opinion that those who were pushing and assertive without any sense of false modesty could hope to rise in the army. Similarly, a man, who failed to assert himself and demand what was his due, was a coward. He was frank in speaking about the weaknesses of his officers in failing to do what was right and giving him due promotions. This frankness was a part of his character. He commanded many persons in military, and was never haughty. He never became a flatterer, although he obeyed his superiors.

Will Honeycomb - The Spectator Club was not merely a set of humorists, unacquainted with the gallantries and pleasures of the age. There was a gallant among them. His name was Will Honeycomb. Though he was old, there were no trace of the passage of time in his brain or in his person. He had an attractive personality and could impress women by his talk. He was always mentally alert. He was always well dressed and was well acquainted with the history of every fashion that remained in vogue in England. He knew the various styles of curling the hair or of wearing the hood. He could talk about women most easily. He could say, when the Duke of Monmouth danced at court and who fell in love with him then. His conversation was always pleasing, and he was generally spoken of as a well-bred fine gentleman.

The Clergyman - The last member of The Spectator Club was a Clergyman. He rarely attended the meetings of the Club. He was known for his wide knowledge, sanctity and good breeding. He was very weak in constitution. Because of ill-health, he could not fulfill the responsibilities, which promotion in the church might have brought to him. He was among the divines as the chamber counselor among the lawyers. He spoke on divine topic with authority. He wished for the good of the world even after his decay.

 

2.       Write a short note on Steele’s style.

-    Sir Richard Steele, like Addison has the distinction of not merely founding the English essay, but also of making it a vehicle of gentle criticism, refined humour and kind satire. His essay on The Spectator Club’ is an example of this skill. The character sketch of the various members of the Spectator Club invites criticism both of social types and individuals. Sir Roger, the lawyer, Sir Andrew Freeport, Captain Sentry, Will Honeycomb and the Clergyman not merely represent various classes and professions but are also interesting as individuals. They are ‘humorists’ either in exaggerating their class characteristics or in deviating from them. Sir Roger is defective in taste like a typical country square, but he shows it only in actions prompted by good feeling. Captain Sentry has none of the sycophancy of careerist in the army. The lawyer is more interested in literature and drama than in law, while the Clergyman is unworldly to an extreme extent. In ‘The Spectator Club’ we have representative men from all walks of life who entertain us and we cannot help loving them at the same time. Steele’s object in presenting these characters as representatives of society is to refine manners and cure the society of its follies and shortcomings. This object is fulfilled in a perfect manner.

 

3.       The members of the Spectator Club are called a “set of humorists.” Illustrate.

-    Steele says that the members of The Spectator Club are a “set of humorists.” Humorist means an eccentric person. Sir Roger de Coverley is the most eccentric among the members of The Spectator Club. He values morals above manners and prefers kindliness and goodness to soulless conventions and insincere etiquettes. He was very close to the servants of the house and had a genuine interest in them although it was required of him according to social convention to keep a distant reserve with servants. He was disappointed in the love of a beautiful widow and stayed a bachelor throughout his life. Though at one time he was a man of fashions and he moved in the best circles of society. However, after being ill-used by the widow he lost all his joviality and interest in social life for more than a year. Thus, Sir Roger brings out the defects as well as the virtues of the country squire. He was defective in taste like a typical country squire.

Another member of the Club is a lawyer. He took to the study of law in obedience to his father. He was more interested in the study of drama and dramatic criticism. His father used to send to him by every post various questions on law in order to ensure his son’s progress in legal studies. The son outwitted the father by getting them answered through a layer whom he had engaged for this purpose.

Sir Andrew Freeport, an eminent businessman of London, represents the commercial classes. He is a standing illustration of the prudence as well as the narrow self-complacency of the successful businessman. He knew many short maxims. He had neither wit nor learning. He had a unique art of speech.

Captain Sentry is Sir Roger’s nephew. His eccentricity lies in his refusing to play the courtier to his superior officers. He was not a flatterer and he retired from the army because of his own innate modesty and honesty. He was of the opinion that it is cowardice to stand back modestly.

Will Honeycomb is the gallant of the company forming The Spectator Club. He was considered “a well-bred fine gentleman.” His talk was always about women and fashions. He was honest and worthy only where women were not concerned.

The Clergyman is also a member of The Spectator Club who rarely visited the Club. He lived a sacred life. He was among the divines as the counsel chamber among the lawyers. He wished for the good of the world even after his decay. The Clergyman’s eccentricity was his extreme unworldliness.

The Spectator shows a nice sense of judgement and discrimination by describing the eccentricities of the members of the Club. The sketch of the various members of The Spectator Club is an attempt at comprehensive criticism both of social types and individuals.