Wednesday, August 15, 2012

Coverley Paper by Addison & Steele

Q: Fear of Ghost and Apparition- explain it.

Written by Joseph Addison and Richard Steele, the de Coverley Paper is the mirror of the eighteenth century’s life and manner, both of the city and countryside. Sir Roger, one of the good friends of Addison and Steele, represents the lifestyle of rural England in eighteenth century.

Eighteenth century is known as ‘Age of reason’. Because of the scientific revolution, people are becoming more reasonable, because of education, and ignorance are removing from the society.

There is a hunted beside Sir Roger’s house, where the servants of the house don’t go because of fear. They can see or feel supernatural things, such as ghost. Then Sir Roger tells his clergyman to stay a night in that hunted to reduce the fear of his servants. Thus Sir Roger proves that there is no ghost and everything is created by weak mind. Sir Roger is the symbol of reason and the servants are the symbol of ignorance according to eighteenth century.

The main subject of the Coverley Paper is to satire the society. Though this is the age of enlighten, social, psychological, political conflict have appeared- all these factors are portrayed by Addison and Steele through wit irony and symbols.

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