Of Parents and Children
by
Francis Bacon
(Summary)
The essay deals with parents and their anxiety
about their children. It also deals with pros and cons of parents. Every parent
likes to know how he should bring up or deal with his children. For Bacon, the
joys, sorrows and fears of the parents about their children are personal and
private, because they are not shared with others.
Through
this essay, Bacon has pointed out the faults of parents towards their children like
unequal favoritism, illiberality, and encourages a spirit of rivalry; and he
has also tried to give advice for parents. For example, parents are taught not
to discriminate between in their love for their children and it is not
desirable. It is not proper for parents to show their preferences in respect of
their children. In a large family, the eldest child gets some attention and the
youngest is often spoilt. The ones in the middle are ignored but often prove
themselves to be the best of the lot. Bacon also pointed out that parents
should not be misery in giving their children pocket allowance. This is harmful
as it will lead them into crooked and dishonest ways and open to over
indulgence if they come into plenty in later life. Authority should be exercised
but there should be liberality in pocket allowance. Another bad practice is to
encourage a spirit of competition among children. Bacon says that parents
should not encourage the spirit of rivalry between brothers because rivalry is
bound to lead to jealousy and then develops into hatred. This act would develop
disharmony in the family when they are older. Bacon gives an example of
Italians as: The Italians make no distinction between their near relations such
as nephew and their own children. This is justified because a nephew sometimes
bears a greater resemblance to a person than his own child.
Bacon
says that parents should choose a suitable profession for their child. The choice
should be made early when the child is yet pliable. Any initial aversion felt
by child for the profession will be overcome by custom. If, however, the
child's inclination is markedly opposed to the profession of parental choice,
then he may be allowed to make his own choice. Younger brothers generally come
to good as they have a strong incentive to hard work. This incentive is
withdrawn if the elder brother is disinherited and the younger child hopes to
be the beneficiary of a lot of wealth.
Bacon
makes certain interesting observations at the very outset of the essay. These
observations have the merit of being true. Parents are certainly unable to express
their joys about their children. Similarly, they cannot give expressions to the
grief's fear that they experience with references to their children. Indeed,
children do sweeten the labours of parents, and they do make misfortunes
bitter. However, it is difficult to agree with Bacon when he says that the
noblest works and foundations have proceeded from childless men. The essay is
remarkable for its brevity. It is written in condensed style. It belongs to the
category in which Bacon views man in relation to the world and society. The
subject is of the common and widespread interest which contains some
indisputably sound advice regarding the bringing up of children. This speaks
for the keen insight Bacon possessed. Though the subject could easily involve
sentimentality, Bacon considers it in the clear light of unsentimentality. He
prepares, as usual, a balance-sheet of advantages and disadvantages which are
the lot of parents. Apparently, Bacon did not consider people with children an
asset to society.
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