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This is a Multimedia Presentation for

Course No: 3103Course Title: English Prose

Section: A

English Discipline Khulna University

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Submitted To

Rumana RahmanLecturer

English DisciplineKhulna University

Submitted By

Group: 3

• Md. Shahrear Mahmood - 081406• Md. Mehedy Hasan - 081431 • Abu Md. Sadekeen - 081434• Fatimatuzzahura -

081436

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Welcome

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To The Multimedia Presentationon

The Essay

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"Of Unity in Religion"

By

Sir Francis Bacon

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Table Of Contents

1.Historical Background

2.“Of Unity In Religion” In A Nutshell

3.Critical Comments On “Of Unity In Religion”

4.Style of Francis Bacon

5.Figurative Languages In “Of Unity In Religion”

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Historical BackgroundFrancis Bacon wrote the Essay “Of Unity in Religion” at a time when England was undergoing a religious change under the Reign of Queen Elizabeth I. It was the time when Protestantism was being established as the main religion in England under The Church of England. But there was much controversy surrounded the reformation and within the Church of England itself. Francis Bacon as an astute politician realized the necessity of a unified church for the stability and the progress of the English empire. And from this necessity he wrote the essay to convey his message of unification of the protestant religion.

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A brief description of the religious reformation of England is given below:

England was a Catholic nation under the rule of Henry VII (1485-1509) and during much of Henry VIII's (1509-1547) reign.

When Henry VIII came to the throne, he was a devout Catholic When the Pope refused to grant Henry VIII a divorce from Catherine of Aragon, Henry split off the English Church from the Roman church. This marked the start of centuries or religious conflict in Britain.

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Until Henry's death in 1547, although separated from Rome, England remained Catholic country. It wasn't until Henry's son, Edward VI’s reign that England became a Protestant country. Edward was a strict protestant. Under King Edward VI (1547-1553), England became a Protestant nation. But under Queen Mary I (1553-1558), England was again a Catholic nation. Mary was a devout Catholic. During the last three years of her reign, 300 leading Protestants who would not accepted Catholic beliefs were burned to death at the stake. This horrible executions earned her the nickname of 'Bloody Mary'.

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Under Queen Elizabeth I (1558-1603), England was again a Protestant nation. Elizabeth wanted England to have peace and not be divided over religion. She tried to find ways which both the Catholic and Protestant sides would accept and be happy.

Although Elizabeth insisted on protestant beliefs, she still allowed many things from the Catholic religion. Elizabeth disliked and punished extreme Protestants and extreme Catholics who tried to convert people to their faiths. And thus peace was restored in England for a time being under the wise rule of Queen Elizabeth. And the English people

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“Of Unity In Religion” In A Nutshell

In ‘Of Unity in Religion’ Francis Bacon formulate the idea of religion as the chief bond which keeps human society united because at the time when this essay was written, there were plenty of religious controversies, plots, intrigues, persecutions and attempts on the lives of ruler.

He demands the pagan religion as free from conflict and division (as the contemporary was), because it consisted of rituals and ceremonies rather than fixed belief.

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Commenting on the individuality of one God (believed by the Christians), he asserts the importance and necessary of the unity of the church as the best way of securing religion.

Then he mentions three advantages of religious unity those include to please God and fulfill the required objects of religion. Secondly, to suppress the ridicule about the church. And at last by religious unity members of the church can bring peach, strengthens faith, and promotes charity.

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He restrains two extremes those must be avoided-

1. Fanatics who give more emphasize on increasing the number of their followers than on peach in the church.

2. Lukewarm who reconcile differences in essential points in religion rather than be beneficial to the church.

As a resolution of avoiding these extremes Bacon urges to the churchmen to remain united if they ignore their differences over superficial points and can agree on the fundamental principles of Christianity.

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He also originates the margins on two controversies – when the point of dispute is too insignificant to generate heat passion, and when the subtle and obscure terms make an issue so serious.

He suggests the church not to accept the unity which is based on ignorance of the inconsistencies, and a patch-work of unity which is artificial or false unity.

At last of the essay Bacon makes a proposition to both the church and state not to be rebellious to one another because it violets the principles of man’s duty towards God and duty towards mankind.

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One also shouldn’t be as a devil that has an ambition to of attaining the height of God. He says with great firmness that those who convert people through force are serving private ends and not the religion.

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Critical Comments On “Of Unity In Religion”

“Of Unity in Religion” was first published in 1612, but stretched out to its present form in 1625. The essay gains importance mainly from the situation existed at the time of its composition. However it has some relevance even today.

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The Essays Relevance to Its Time of Composition

At the time when the essay was written, there were various religious controversies, plots, persecutions and attempts on the life of the Kings. England a protestant state was constantly in conflict with Spain and France which were Catholics. The Jesuits were laying deep plan on behalf of the Catholic cause. The Puritans, extreme and non-conformist group among the Protestants, were raising their head and threatening the monarchy and the moderate Protestantism of the Church of England.

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Bacon’s sharp Observation

Bacon as an astute observer and practical thinker was aware of the danger of religious controversies. But at the same time there is no question about his sincere concern for the welfare of the church. Bacon’s solution to the controversy is the standard distinction of the Protestant theory between faith and practice.

Expository Style

“Of Unity In Religion”, unlike the earlier essays of Bacon, shows a systematic development and an analytical approach. It shows Bacon’s rhetorical skill. He brings his arguments together, orders them to lead up to an effective climax. He wishes to impress upon his readers the need for religious unity, and his arguments are directed towards end.

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Use of Allusions and Symbolic Language

Bacon uses plenty of classical and Biblical allusions and quotations to validate his arguments. Striking images are employed to convey the foolishness and blasphemy of carrying on bloodshed in the name of God. It is Bacon says in picturesque language transforming the “likeness of a dove” in to “vulture or raven”, or ‘to set out the bark of a Christian church, flag of a bark of pirates and assassins”, Bacon’s allude to Lucretius, Christ, St. Paul etc. but he weaves these allusions into the texture of his arguments.

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The Essay’s Universal Appeal

The essay although originating in the renaissance religious conflicts, has relevance even today. Its wisdom has meaning for the present times. The essay has meaning not only for the Christians but for all religions. Bacon condemns prejudice and makes a forceful appeal for tolerance and a liberal outlook on religion – attitudes which are necessary even now in the twentieth century.

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Style of Francis Bacon

“If parts allure these think how Bacon shin’dThe wisest, brightest and meanest of mankind”

By the above lines poet Alexander Pope has defined Francis Bacon and we see the justification for calling him the wisest, brightest and meanest of mankind through his essays. His essays are the evidence for his wisdom and powerful intellect and genius. His essays are aphoristic and full of analogy and images, quotations and allusions. Some major stylistic features of Bacon’s prose style is given below based on his essay, “Of Unity in religion”.

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Brief, Concise

Bacons Essays are brief in length and are very concise. For example “Of Unity in Religion” is only 1,516 words long. The sentences in the essays are short and to the point.

Utilitarian Morality 

Bacon’s essays are practical guideline and the morality they essays represent are tinged with the colour of worldliness. Here Bacon doesn’t preach any ideal morality but that doesn’t mean that his essays are completely devoid of ethical consideration.

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Use of Latin Phrases and Quotations

Bacons has used Latin words and quotations quite often in the Essay which is a sign of his learnedness as the study of Latin was considered quite indispensible. But at the same time he has explained in plain English what he has said earlier in Latin. A list of Latin phrases and quotations is given below:

1. Ecce in deserto2. Ecce in penetralibus3. Nolite exire4. In veste varietas sit, scissura non sit5. Devita profanas vocum novitates, et

oppositiones falsi nominis scientiae6. Tantum Religio potuit suadere malorum.7. Ira hominis non implet justitiam Dei.

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Less Intimacy with the Reader

In the essay we find Bacon is not interested to develop any intimacy with the reader. He just makes points and then explains them. In “Of Unity in Religion” We see Bacon to address his reader only two times. They are:

“For you may imagine, what kind of faith theirs was, when the chief doctors, and fathers of their church, were the poets.”

“if an heathen come in, and hear you speak with several tongues, will he not say that you are mad?”

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Figurative Languages In “Of Unity In Religion”

Images

Image is the language referring to something that can be perceived through one or more of the sense- sight, hearing, smell, taste, touch, the sense of motion, or the sense of heat and cold. An image may name something; it may describe it literally or it may invoke it figuratively. An image can also be a symbol.

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Use of image in “Of Unity In Religion” –

‘…two swords among the Christians, the spiritual and the temporal.…. But we may not take up the third sword, which is Mahomet’s sword.’

Through the above Striking images are employed to convey the foolishness and blasphemy of carrying on bloodshed in the name of God.

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Allusion

Allusion is the reference to historical or fictional characters, places, or events, or to other works that the writer assumes the reader will recognize. Allusions to the Bible and to Shakespeare’s works are common because they both enjoy a vast readership. Allusion may refer to mythology, religion, literature, history or art. Their power lies in suggestions and connotations.

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Allusions in “Of Unity In Religion” –

‘…Christ’s coat indeed had no seam, but the church’s vesture was of diverse colors.’

It’s an allusion to Prophet Jesus Christ who perched Christianity.

‘…in the toes of Nebuchadnezzar’s image; they may cleave, but they will not incorporate.’

It’s an allusion to Nebuchadnezzar I, the king of the Babylonian Empire from about 1125 B.C.E to 1103 B.C.E.

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‘Lucretius the poet, when he beheld the act of Agamemnon, that could endure the sacrificing of his own daughter…’

It’s an allusion to Roman poet and philosopher Titus Lucretius Carus (ca. 99 BC – ca. 55 BC) Agamemnon, the mythical King of Mycenae, Greece and his daughter Iphigenia.

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‘…if he had known the massacre in France or the powder treason of England?’

This is an double allusion to Saint Bartholomew's Day massacre in France and The Gunpowder Treason Plot of 1605, which was a failed assassination attempt against King James I by a group of provincial English Catholics led by Sir Robert Catesby.

‘…instead of the likeness of a dove, in the shape of a vulture or raven.’

Its an allusion to Noah’s arch, from where Noah sent the unsuccessful raven and then the successful dove to find out whether the Great flood has been subsided.

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Simile

It is a figure of speech that uses like, as or as if to compare two essentially different objects, actions or attributes that share some aspect of similarity. It is an explicit comparison between two different things.Simile in “Of Unity In Religion” –

‘For truth and falsehood, in such things, are like iron and clay.’

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Conclusion

Sir Francis Bacon is truly a marvel in the history of English literature. His writing reflected his vast range of knowledge and they are not only a source of knowledge but also of common sense and they help us to raise our consciousness and to be a more practical human beings who deals with the issues of life with reason rather than emotion. Although many readers will not find Bacon’s essays to be as much as entertaining as William Shakespeare or other Elizabethan writers, Bacons writings too has its entertaining side which aims at sharpening our minds with aphoristic approach. Francis Bacon is truly, “the wisest, brightest and meanest of mankind.”

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Thank You Very Much For Your Patience

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The End