ESSAY “OF FRIENDSHIP ”

FRANCIS BACON

INTRODUCTION:

Of Friendship is the masterpiece essay nicely written by Francis

Bacon who is popularly known as an eminent essayist, thinker,
scholar, and philosopher in English literature. He belongs to the
Elizabethan age. This essay was first published in 1612 was very
brief. The present version published in 1625, is practically a new
composition much longer than the original version. The essay was
actually written at the request of Bacon's intimate friend "Toby
Matthew".

WHO WAS FRANCIS BACON ?

Francis Bacon was an English Renaissance statesman and

philosopher, best known for his promotion of the scientific method.
He is the founder of Empiricism. He was born in January 22, 1561 in
London, England. Bacon served as attorney general and Lord
Chancellor of England, resigning amid charges of corruption. His
more valuable work was philosophical. Bacon took up Aristotelian
ideas, arguing for an empirical, inductive approach, known as the
scientific method, which is the foundation of modern scientific
inquiry.

Bacon’s Achievements :

 HE SERVED AS LORD CHANCELLOR OF ENGLAND FROM 1618

TO 1621
 SIR FRANCIS BACON WAS KNIGHTED IN 1603 AND CREATED
1ST VISCOUNT ST. ALBAN IN 1621
 HE WAS A PROLIFIC WRITER WHO WROTE ON A VARIETY OF
SUBJECTS
 FRANCIS BACON IS CONSIDERED THE FATHER OF THE
SCIENTIFIC METHOD
 HIS WORK LAID THE FOUNDATION FOR THE SCIENTIFIC
REVOLUTION
 AMONG HIS MOST INFLUENTIAL WORKS IS THE ADVANCEMENT
OF LEARNING
 HIS PROPOSED LEGAL REFORMS PARTLY INFLUENCED THE
NAPOLEONIC CODE
 HIS WORK NEW ATLANTIS INFLUENCED

Analysis Of "Of Friendship”:

Francis Bacon begins Of Friendship with an anthropological
statement from Aristotle,
"Whatsoever is delighted in Solitude, is either a wild beast or a god."
Bacon posits that human nature demands company and social
contact. Human beings and anyone who avoids such interactions is
not doing justice to his natural state. Bacon does not criticize people
who feel shy in a crowd and head for therefore seek isolation in the
wild. Such people
find great value in peace and it aids their mental processes to
contemplate profound issues. Bacon points to philosophers like
Epimenides the Canadian, Numa the Roman, Empedocles the
Sicilian, and Apollonius of Tyana, who postulated theories unique to
their age and contemporaries.

Bacon attempts to differentiate between kinship and the general

crowd. For him, there is a big difference between strangers of
society and known friends.
"A Person can feel lonely in a crowd too."
Bacon uses a Latin adage which means that a big city is filled with
great solitude. In a large city, people are separated and encamped
in distinct areas that are difficult to bring closer together.

According to Bacon, friendship

demands the involvement of passions and feelings. They
form the foundation of any friendship. Emotions are the
threads that
bind the hearts together.

A Cure For Ailing Heats:

Bacon points to the ailments of the heart that it suffers if it stops or

in suffocate. A healthy heart required vigor and the same is provided
by an intimate and friendly conversation with one's pals. Patients
take medicines for the liver spleen, lungs, brain, etc, but for the
issues of hearts, the love and affection of a friend is the best cure.

The First Fruit of Friendship :

Friendship offers some benefits. Bacon discusses three of them in

his essay.

First, friendship is “the ease and discharge of the fullness and

swellings of the heart” .It implies that a friend can offer relief for
emotions like sadness, anger, and anxiety.
Bacon refers to a surgeon to differentiate between physical and
mental health. A surgeon uses various substances for medical
conditions like liver surgery.
Contradictorily, medicine or doctor is of no use for an ailing heart.
Only a true friend can relieve one’s emotional burdens.
One needs a trustworthy friend with whom one can share grief, joys,
fears, hopes, and everything that lies in the heart.

Second Fruit of Friendship :

The second benefit is a friend calms emotions and clarifies thoughts

of the other during difficult times.
Articulating thoughts before a friend makes it easy to understand. A
Friend removes all the confusion like the sun removes darkness.
Therefore, an hour of discussion with a friend makes one wiser than
contemplating by oneself the whole day.
Themistocles told the king of Persia that speaking unfolds thoughts
like a tapestry. It reveals the detailed images inside, whereas
keeping thoughts inside is like leaving the tapestry folded up with its
designs hidden.
Even without taking advice from a friend, one can understand
oneself by expressing thoughts. It also sharpens thinking, similar to
how a stone sharpens a blade without cutting itself.

Third Fruit of Friendship

The third benefit of friendship is that it is like a pomegranate. One

can not possibly finish all tasks on their own in a lifetime. Like a
pomegranate that has various kernels, a friend offers diverse roles
in a person’s life.

Sometimes, people have wishes to fulfill before passing away, such

as witnessing their child’s success or completing a project.
Unfortunately, many leave this world with many unfulfilled dreams
behind.

In such instances, a friend can take on such responsibility and

ensure the fulfillment of wishes. It is akin to granting a second
chance at life.

The Characteristics of True friendship:

• Trust and Loyalty: Bacon emphasizes the importance of trust and loyalty
in friendship. He suggests that true friendship is based on mutual
reliability and support.
• Reciprocity: Bacon argues that friendship should be reciprocal, with both
parties benefiting and contributing equally to the relationship.
• Honesty and Openness: He values honesty and openness between
friends, where they can share their thoughts and feelings without fear of
judgment.
• Emotional Connection: Bacon sees friendship as a deep emotional
connection between individuals, transcending mere social acquaintance.

The Challenges of Friendship:

• Betrayal and Deception: Bacon acknowledges that friendships can be

fragile and subject to betrayal or deception, which can undermine trust
and lead to the dissolution of relationships.
• Self-Interest: He warns against friendships based solely on self-interest,
where one party exploits the other for personal gain rather than genuine
companionship.
• Expectations and Disappointments: Bacon notes that unrealistic
expectations can lead to disappointment in friendships, especially when
friends fail to meet perceived obligations or standards.
• Temporal Nature: Bacon recognizes the transient nature of some
friendships, which may change or fade over time due to circumstances or
personal growth.

Cultivating and maintaining Friendships:

Cultivating and maintaining friendships is a vital aspect of human

connection, as emphasized by Francis Bacon in "Of Friendship." Here are
some key points to explore within this theme:

1. Regular Communication:
Bacon stresses the importance of regular communication in nurturing
friendships. This involves staying in touch, sharing experiences, and
expressing care and interest in each other's lives.

2. Shared Activities:
Engaging in shared activities and interests strengthens the bond between
friends. Bacon suggests that participating in enjoyable pursuits together
fosters a sense of camaraderie and mutual enjoyment.

3. Support and Encouragement:

True friendships involve providing support and encouragement to one
another during both good times and bad. Bacon highlights the significance
of being there for each other, offering a listening ear, and providing
assistance when needed.

4. Honesty and Transparency:

Open and honest communication is essential for maintaining trust and
intimacy in friendships. Bacon warns against deceit and insincerity,
advocating for transparency and authenticity in interactions between
friends.

5. Understanding and Forgiveness:

Conflicts and misunderstandings are inevitable in any relationship, but
Bacon advises friends to approach these challenges with understanding
and forgiveness. Being willing to reconcile and move past disagreements
strengthens the friendship bond.

6. Value in Adversity:
Bacon emphasizes the importance of friendship during times of adversity.
True friends provide comfort, support, and companionship during difficult
circumstances, serving as a source of strength and resilience.

7. Friendship in Old Age:

Bacon reflects on the enduring value of friendship, particularly in old age.
Maintaining meaningful connections with friends can bring
companionship, joy, and a sense of belonging in later stages of life.

CONCLUSION:

Francis Bacon's essay "Of Friendship" offers timeless wisdom and

practical advice on the cultivation and maintenance of meaningful
relationships. Throughout the essay, Bacon emphasizes the
importance of regular communication, shared activities, support,
honesty, understanding, and forgiveness in nurturing friendships. He
highlights the value of true friendship during both joyful moments
and times of adversity, underscoring its role in providing comfort,
companionship, and resilience.

In today's fast-paced and often disconnected world, Bacon's insights

remain as relevant as ever. His reflections on friendship serve as a
reminder of the enduring importance of authentic connections and
mutual support in fostering individual well-being and societal
cohesion. By applying Bacon's principles to our own lives, we can
strive to cultivate and maintain friendships that enrich our
experiences, bring us joy, and provide us with a sense of belonging.

As we navigate the complexities of human relationships, let us heed

Bacon's advice to cherish and nurture the bonds of friendship, for
they are among life's greatest treasures. Through openness,
honesty, empathy, and forgiveness, we can cultivate lasting
connections that bring meaning and fulfillment to our lives, echoing
Bacon's timeless wisdom for generations to come.