does anybody know anything about Francis bacon's "of marriage and single life?

Question

i'm looking for analysis of that particular essay by Francis Bacon but i couldn't find any. Could you please help me? by suggesting a web page or telling what you know about it generally. Thank you all

Answer 1

You can do it! You don't need to find somebody else's analysis of such a short, simple work.

Just don't think of Bacon's essays as you would a modern essay. Here's seven steps for doing your own analysis.

(1) It's really a list of sayings, kinda like one-liners. Rewrite it as a list, at least in your own mind.

(2) Don't expect one saying, or aphorism, to be closely connected to the one before it or the one after it.

(3) This is Elizabethan English; to understand the sentences, just get down to the basics.

(4) Then try to put them in your own words.

For example, notice this rewriting of the first few sentences:

**He that hath wife and children hath given hostages to fortune; for they are impediments to great enterprises, either of virtue or mischief.

BASICS: A wife and children are impediments to great enterprises.

MOD ENG: A man's gotta pay attention to his wife and kids, so he may not have as much time or energy to make money or become famous.

**Certainly the best works, and of greatest merit for the public, have proceeded from the unmarried or childless men; which both in affection and means, have married and endowed the public.

BASICS: The best works have proceeded from the unmarried or childless man, which have married the public.

MOD ENG: A single man is married to his public or his business or his fans, or whatever, so he'll do more things for them 'cause he doesn't have to take care of a family.

**Yet it were great reason that those that have children, should have greatest care of future times; unto which they know they must transmit their dearest pledges.

BASICS: Those that have children should have greatest care of the future unto which they must transmit their pledges.

MOD ENG: People with kids should want to make the world a better place in the future, 'cause that's when their kids will have to live their lives.

So you see, these are basically a list of unconnected sayings. You can reduce them to their main point, then put them in your own words.

(5) Now remember: Bacon is probably trying to shock or provoke or at least stimulate a response. How might you respond to each of his sayings if your were, say, a happily married man or an unhappily married man, or a bachelor confirmed in his ways, or a bachelor looking for a wife?

For example, if you're a happily married man with children, how would you respond if somebody told you they were "impediments"? Might you not respond by saying, "Yeah, but I'm more concerned about the future than you are, 'cause that's where my kids and grandkids will spend their lives. So I gotta pay attention to making the world a better place"?

(6) OK, now that you have the hang of it, pick out a few of what to you seem the most provocative or outrageous or contradictory sayings. For example,

**Unmarried men are best friends, best masters, best servants; but not always best subjects; for they are [like] to run away . . . .

**Chaste women are often proud and [forward], as presuming upon the merit of their chastity.

**Wives are young men's mistresses; companions for middle age; and old men's nurses. So a man may have [reason] to marry when he will.

**[A wise man once] made answer to the question, when a man should marry, - A young man not yet, an [older] man not at all.

See, you can do it. And it will take you a lot less time than searching the Internet for somebody else's analysis, which won't be any better than yours.

So go to it. Have fun!

(7) Think of yourself as Dave Letterman or Keith Olbermann or Stephen Colbert. Interview Bacon; bring him to his senses (or to his knees).

Aw, c'mon, Francis (you don't mind if I call you Frank, do you?). You don't really think some rich men actually feel richer 'cause they have no children, do you?

Now, Frank, who do you know that really loves his freedom so much they he won't wear a belt or elastic in his socks?

Be frank, Frank. You really mean to say that churchmen should stay single 'cause their parishioners won't want to support a whole family? Like, they won't water the lawn if they gotta fill a swimming pool first? You really think that?

Well, come to think of it, you may have a point there. One argument for a celibate priesthood, I guess. I'll give you one for that.

OK, Frank, what are your top ten reasons that a man should stay single (or get married, whichever). Gotta have a list for the Letterman show tonight.

Answer 2

This Site Might Help You.

RE:
does anybody know anything about Francis bacon's "of marriage and single life?
i'm looking for analysis of that particular essay by Francis Bacon but i couldn't find any. Could you please help me? by suggesting a web page or telling what you know about it generally. Thank you all

Answer 3

yes maried men live longer than single men, but married men are much more willing to die..................