The Life of Samuel Johnson

1156 Words3 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Samuel johnson in 18 century literature

Samuel Johnson, prominent English author, lived a life which was appears to have been unpretentious on the surface, however his life was filled with numerous complications, extreme suffering and massive psychological troubles. Also, despite all the struggles and suffering in his life, he had a “passionate concern for humanity and even said, ‘I have often thought that there has rarely passed a life of which a judicious and faithful narrative would not be useful’” ( Green ). Samuel Johnson was born September 7, 1709 in Lichfield, Staffordshire, England in the home above his fifty-two year old father’s struggling bookshop. His father had gained prosperity but it did not endure the enterprises he was involved in, forcing the family into financial distress. As a result, Samuel Johnson would feel the financial distress for the first fifty years of his life. Sarah Ford, his mother, was forty years old when he was born. She was from a respectable family but married a poor man of intellectual tastes (Green). His parents did not share a happy marriage and rarely conversed. After his father’s death he developed an appreciation of his mother’s character and determination; she would operate the bookshop for almost thirty years. On the other hand, she was firm, narrow minded and self-centered which made her unable to fill the emotional needs of her children (Green). It is speculated that Johnson’s younger brother may have committed suicide at the age of twenty-five and Johnson’s life would be plagued with psychological issues which were directly related to his mother (Green).

Even though Samuel Johnson’s childhood was filled with illness and poverty he grew up to become a big powerful man. He lost sight in one of his eyes and...

... middle of paper ...

...ut what is the cause of his tics; psychosomatic (Green) or Tourette Syndrome (Wikipedia). Wikipedia did not state a cause of death, stabbing himself with scissors (Green) or his burial at the foot of Shakespeare (Green). Wikipedia does not discuss the dissatisfaction of his parents relationship (Green). Also Wikipedia does not discuss the relationship between his psychological problems and his mother (Green). Even though the articles share differences there are much more information correlates between them. Thus, Wikipedia appears to contain a reliable source of information that can be substantiated about the life of Samuel Johnson.

Works Cited

Green, Donald. “Chapter 1: The Man and His Life.” 1989. 10 June 2015

“Samuel Adams.” Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. 15 May 2011. 03 June 2015

.

Show More
Related

  • Myne Owne Ground Summary

    901 Words  | 2 Pages

    Originally a bonded man, Johnson is introduced as an exemplary figure in terms of his capacity to raise himself above his humble beginnings and to die having accrued a significant amount of property; enabling him to bear a reputation as a “black patriarch” (Bree & Innes, 7) and someone who, regardless of the evident difference between themselves and their white neighbours, proved through their very existence that opportunities for social advancement existed for the non-white individuals in the period under

    Read More

  • Frederick Douglass' Words Caught the Attention of Many - Including Slave Owners

    867 Words  | 2 Pages

    Different types of literature have been part of America since the 1630’s and the varieties of literature still exist to this day. Frederick Douglass’s work and speeches during his lifetime caught the attention of many people in the United States, including slave owners themselves. Douglass has not only changed American literature, he has also inspired many other writers and speakers to seek freedom of expression for themselves. Even though he had a rough childhood because he was a slave, Douglass found ways to make the most of it. Fortunately it was because he had a nice and caring owner who taught him to read and write. Furthermore, because he had a warmhearted owner, he was able to express himself through his work to many different people of his time. Douglass’s works and speeches remain of great impact, and continue to influence and inspire many people in literature to this day. He influenced many people during his travels to Northern free states and overseas to England and Ireland where he explained and changed their mindset of the cruelty of slavery, which ultimately lead to the adjustment by the people to understand the reality of slavery.

    Read More

  • The Ghost Map by Steven Johnson

    1031 Words  | 3 Pages

    The setting is London in 1854, which is very different to anything we know today. Johnson’s description of this time and place makes it seem like a whole other world from the here and now....

    Read More

  • Andrew Johnson - A Short Analysis

    730 Words  | 2 Pages

    President Andrew Johnson lifted himself out of extreme poverty to become President of the United States. He was a man with little education who climbed the political ladder and held many different high offices. As a strict constitutionalist, Johnson believed in limiting the powers of the federal government. President Johnson was one of the most bellicose Presidents who “fought” Congress, critics, and many others. President Andrew Johnson faced numerous problems post-Civil War Era including reconstructing the Southern states to combine peacefully with the Union, his battles with Congress, and his career ending impeachment.

    Read More

  • Dr Jekyll And Mr Hyde Context Essay

    806 Words  | 2 Pages

    Thus in conclusion, the concept that texts are a reflection of their context is applicable in Robert Stevenson’s novella: “The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde”. This is due to the values of the nineteenth century Victorian England such as technological advances, reputation and masculinity being reflected through the main characters of the text through Stevenson’s use of literary devices support.

    Read More

  • A Brief Biography Of Andrew Jackson

    1147 Words  | 3 Pages

    Jackson remained in the military after the war. Late in 1817,he received orders to subdue the Seminole Native Americans, who were raiding across the border from Spanish Florida itself. He captured its bastions at St. Marks Pensacola and arrested, tried, and executed two British nationalists whom he charged with abetting the Native Americans.

    Read More

  • Nathaniel Hawthorne's Use of Words to Paint Images within the The Scarlet Letter and Hawthorne’s Political Career in the Salem Custom House

    771 Words  | 2 Pages

    "Nathaniel Hawthorne." American Studies @ The University of Virginia. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Nov. 2013. http://xroads.virginia.edu/~ma01/lisle/dial/hawthorne.html

    Read More

  • Andrew Jackson Essay

    751 Words  | 2 Pages

    Andrew Jackson was the seventh president of the United States of America. His terms were served from March 4, 1829 to March 4, 1837. He was a very religious person. Jackson attended church regularly. The president opened his cabinet meetings with a prayer. When he was general, he would say a prayer before battle to his men. Jackson was the first President elected hailing west of the Appalachians. At the time he was the oldest President to be elected into office. Jackson's presidency defined itself in two central points: the “nullification crisis” and the "Bank War." Jackson took office, The "American System" program helped economic development through utilizing transportation subsidies, and through protective tariffs on imports to aid American manufacturers. A lot of Southerners believed these policies promoted Northern growth and that this was at their expense. Jackson slowed down the American System by vetoing road, and canal bills starting with the Maysville Road in 1830. In1832 South Carolina declared the tariff unconstitutional which made it null and void. The state took steps to block tariff collections within its radius. Even though Jackson favored lower tariffs, Jackson acted swiftly to uphold federal supremacy by force, or any means necessary. He declared the Union indivisible. He then branded nullification as treason. Congress reduced the tariff in 1833, defusing the crisis.

    Read More

  • Andrew Johnson: The 17th President of the United States

    587 Words  | 2 Pages

    Andrew Johnson was a self-taught Democrat from Raleigh, North Carolina. He spent his entire life in politics. Before becoming the Seventeenth president of the United States of America he was in the Tennessee legislature and a member of the U.S Congress. He was also the Governor of Tennessee and was Vice President behind Abraham Lincoln. He was the first president to be impeached.

    Read More

  • Huck Finn the Racist

    1334 Words  | 3 Pages

    Paine, Albert B. A Biography The Personal Literary Life of Samuel Langhorne Clemens. Vol. 2. New York and London: Harper and Brothers, 1912. Print.

    Read More

  • Track 1 Analytical Essay #2: Andrew Johnson

    699 Words  | 2 Pages

    Although the Tenure of Office Act that got Andrew Johnson impeached was unconstitutional, this does not mean that he did not deserve to get impeached. Johnson was not a good president because he let personal issues of revenge on aristocrats and viewpoints of slavery blind him. Johnson would also have a stubborn personality that did not aid him in his path for reconstruction against the radical republicans. He would let feelings get in the way of his reason that made him the only president to be forced out of office due to breaking a law that he knowingly deified and would end in his demise igniting “ridicule” by the American people (H.A. Tompkins).

    Read More

  • Essay On Andrew Jackson

    714 Words  | 2 Pages

    In the end what American need to understand is that yes Andrew Jackson made multiple decisions that aided for the good towards America. Did he have a few unfavorable decisions? Yes the fact that one does more good to benefit us as a nation is what is important. Brinkley eve stated that Jackson was strongly committed to preservation of that union and that he did. If we step back a put ourselves in that time frame, it will be inevitable that Jackson was doing all that he could to make our country better, and to help the common man out. Even back in the 18th century. Of course those decision when looked at from today’s perspective would paint him as a villain, but overall for what he did for our country was what the people wanted and what he needed to do he did, compare that to some of our recent leaders today. Andrew Jackson Good, Brave, Hero afterall.

    Read More

  • Nathaniel Hawthorne: A Brief Biography

    1292 Words  | 3 Pages

    On July 4, 1804, an author by the name of Nathaniel Hawthorne was born (Meltzer). As Hawthorne grew, he began to develop a view of himself as “the obscurest man in American letters.” Through the use of popular themes such as isolation, guilt, and earthly imperfection, Hawthorne was able to involve much of his life and ancestral past in his work to answer his own political and religious wonders (“Nathaniel”). Hawthorne successfully “confronts reality rather than evading it” in many of his stories (Clendenning).

    Read More

  • Essay On Andrew Jackson

    831 Words  | 2 Pages

    Andrew Jackson is an extremely important individual in our society. Many people do not realize that he is the first president to be born as a common man. He does not have wealthy parents or a university education like some presidents before. He is high spirited with a quick temper and is always ready to support the people around him and defend himself. What makes his life significant enough to be remembered today?

    Read More

  • Nathaniel Hawthorne's Writing Style Essay

    2568 Words  | 6 Pages

    ... writer who includes many similar elements in his works. These elements of writing which can be found in so many of his stories come together to make a style which cannot and most likely will not ever be seen in the works of anyone besides Nathaniel Hawthorne. Hawthorne distinguishes himself through the use of descriptive sentences which include complex vocabulary and contain a formal tone, the incorporation of a dark/gothic tone, also using characters who fall under scrutiny and alienation, and also the use of autobiographical elements. These are just five of the many connections which can be made between the three stories which were discussed in this paper. Also, although there were only three stories which were analyzed it is more than likely that if one read any of the other stories which Hawthorne wrote in his day than the same findings would be made.

    Read More

More about The Life of Samuel Johnson

Open Document