Summary
Samuel Johnson's "The Idler" centrally argues that idleness is a peculiar and universal human characteristic, defining it as doing by others what one can do oneself, or sacrificing duty or pleasure for ease. This trait, Johnson suggests, is the most accurate definition of humanity, as every person experiences idleness, making the "Idler" a fitting appellation for his essays and a reflection of his readership. The essays explore the nature of idleness, the Idler's tendency to form schemes without execution, and his inherent curiosity and censoriousness.
The book also addresses the miseries of idleness, which are keenly felt by those who experience perpetual inactivity without external impulse. Johnson's essays aim to provide intellectual food and momentary amusement for the "listless" and "empty," acknowledging that even an idle mind requires stimulation. The Idler, despite his sluggishness, can be stimulated to brief bursts of vigor, and relies on correspondents to fill his pages, seeking to please without personal labor.
Key concepts
- Idleness as a peculiar characteristic of man — The defining human trait of performing actions through others or prioritizing ease over duty or pleasure.
- The Idler's privilege of forming schemes — The characteristic of an idle person to conceive many plans without necessarily acting upon them.
- Diminutive history — The Idler's interest in small-scale accounts of family changes and character developments.
- External impulse — The necessity of outside motivation to activate individuals who lie in perpetual inactivity.
From the book
It is likely that the Chronicle was published for the sole purpose of including The Idler , since it had produced only one issue before the series began, and ceased publication when it finished. The authors besides Johnson were Thomas Warton , Bennet Langton , and Joshua Reynolds . 75452 The Idler Samuel Johnson Contents edit No. 1 No. 2 No. 3 No. 4 No. 5 No. 6 No. 7 No. 8 No. 9 No. 10 No. 11 No. 12 No. 13 No. 14 No. 15 No. 16 No. 17 No. 18 No. 19 No. 20 No. 21 No. 22 No. 23 No. 24 No. 25 No. 26 No. 27 No. 28 No. 29 No. 30 No. 31 No. 32 No. 33 No. 34 No. 35 No. 36 No. 37 No. 38 No. 39 No. 40 No. 41 No. 42 No. 43 No. 44 No. 45 No. 46 No. 47 No. 48 No. 49 No. 50 No. 51 No. 52 No. 53 No. 54 No. 55 No. 56 No. 57 No. 58 No. 59 No. 60 No. 61 No. 62 No. 63 No. 64 No. 65 No. 66 No. 67 No. 68 No.…
Popular questions readers ask
- The text suggests the Universal Chronicle existed "for the sole purpose of including The Idler." What does this detail imply about Samuel Johnson's literary standing or the perceived value of his contributions at the time, and how might it have influenced the overall scope or reception of the series?
- Johnson claims that "Every man is, or hopes to be, an Idler." If you were to explain the core philosophy of Johnson's "Idler" to a contemporary audience, how would you articulate its key characteristics and benefits, ensuring you differentiate it from common notions of laziness or apathy?
- Considering Johnson's observations about the difficulty of finding titles for periodical essays and his reference to *The Spectator* and *The Tatler*, how does the choice of "The Idler," and his professed ease in adopting it, implicitly position his work within or against the existing literary tradition of his time?
- The essay states "The Idler... sometimes succeeds better than those who despise all that is within their reach, and think every thing more valuable as it is harder to be acquired." What kind of "success" is Johnson advocating for here, and what societal or personal values might he be critiquing or endorsing through this observation?
- While Johnson wrote the vast majority, a few essays were contributed by other authors. What might be the strategic or thematic reasons for including these contributions, and how might the presence of multiple voices, even if minor, subtly shape the reader's understanding of the series' overarching message or perspective?