Vanity of Authors
Definitions:
- Penitent: (noun) a person who repents their sins or wrongdoings and (in the Christian Church) seeks forgiveness from God.
- Curate: (noun) a member of the clergy engaged as assistant to a vicar, rector, or parish priest.
Notes:
- “For the New York Mirror”
Suggests that this article was written specifically for this magazine, which was a sign of prestige and status for publications. The same thing can be seen in many, if not most, of the articles in this periodical.
- “There is no kind of vanity that is more prevalent, or more overwhelming, than that of authorship.”
This idea is still seen today in the writings of Roland Barthes and Michel Foucault. In “Death of the Author”, Barthes calls for the divorce between a text and its author so that criticisms can exist without the influence of the author or their intent, thus allowing works to transform over time. He claims this influence limits the text as it serves as a final answer or explanation that diminishes the discourse between critics. Similarly, in “What is An Author?”, Foucault calls for a culture in which fiction is freed from the limitations placed by the author and operates purely based on its mode of existence.
- “to destroy the effect that would otherwise have been produced by his writings.”
Sums up the claims of this piece nicely; calls into question is there such a thing as an author who does not show vanity with their writing? And even with vanity, how does a person who is responsible for the creation of a work (the author) be also responsible for the simultaneous destruction of it?
- “This almost invariable concomitant of authorship, has infected the greatest authors of every age and clime.”
Interesting idea as today artists (including novelists) are typically seen as never really being satisfied with their own work, rather than being dissatisfied with other works.
- “thero”
Supposed to say “there”. Probably a typo in document or scanned wrong. Since this mistake comes up again later with the word “age” becoming “ago”, it can be assumed it was a scanning issue as “e” and “o” can look quite similar.
- “the Spectator”
The Spectator is a weekly British magazine on politics, culture, and current affairs. It was first published in July 1828, making it the oldest weekly magazine in the world. It is owned by Frederick Barclay, who also owns The Daily Telegraph newspaper.
- “having seduced the ago [age] from virtue and morality, by his atheistical writings.”
The atheist is worried that he will go to hell for spreading atheism to those of his age-group through his writing.
- “no apprehension of his doing any injury”
There is a lot of language of pain and destruction as related to writing in this piece, that if the writing is not “perfect” it causes suffering in its existence.
- “connexions”
Chiefly British spelling of CONNECTION. It was fairly common in British English until the late 20th century, but today the spelling has faded out of use except in a few proper nouns (usually company names) and special uses.
- “he does not think that any, except his particular friends, and connexions, will take the trouble, or spend the time necessary to read his productions.”
Curate tells the atheist that his sin is not so grave as only his close connections bothered to read his writing. This deeply upsets the atheist, perhaps more so than the fact that he is dying.
- “so much of the frailty of the author in his disposition”
The atheist, even on his death bed, is showcasing the attributes of an author–i.e., vanity.
- “whether they thought him a proper man to attend upon a person in his condition?”
What defines a “proper man?” A lot of this writing seems to be interpreted based on a set of standards that if it fails this interpretation the writing is automatically deemed bad or sinful, i.e. gendered expressions, sinful reaction to writing, etc.
- “This, although possibly fabulous, is still a correct illustration of the disposition of the author.”
The article is saying that despite the possibility that this anecdote is fictional, it is still representative of the vanity and disposition of real authors.
- “We here see him throwing aside the thoughts of death, and his probable future punishment, and totally occupied with the insult offered to his genius.”
The author is more concerned with the fact that his craft has been insulted than his foreseeable death. This is possibly the most clear example illustrating the vanity of an author. Nothing matters more than the reception of their work, the legacy of their authorship, not even death.
- “As Goldsmith says of Garrick, “they please the most who pepper highest.””
From Oliver Goldsmith’s (1728-1774) poem, “Retaliation,” written about then-actor David Garrick.