Joseph Addison provides some personal information to quench the thirst of general readers, who frequently want to know about the author’s whereabouts. They want to know about him because they think that this type of information helps them to understand the book better. It helps to understand the spectators account on himself summary.
The first part of the spectators account on himself summary
First of all, he gives information about his early childhood. The Spectator was born in an estate that he got from his father as an heir. From ancient times, this estate is being given by father to son without dividing. Before his birth, his mother dreamt that he would be a judge when he grew older. And after his birth, his behavior indicate that he would fulfill his mother’s dream because he was serious from an early age. He was a good student and his schoolmaster was pleased with his performance. At University he had separated himself with silence. His silence broke seldom. He was so a hard-working student that he was acquainted with almost all books.
Now he describes his foreign tour. Leaving University after his father’s death, he set out for a Europe tour. His tour’s purpose was to know something from every new place. Regarding the antiquity of Egypt, he had been very curious, because there were many controversies over the pyramids there. To satisfy this curiosity, he went there and enjoyed the pyramids.
Many times he visited almost all the resorts of the public in London. Though he had many friends, he visited all the coffee houses and tried to note about ongoing events there. He also visited many famous theaters in London.
The final part of the summary
Wherever he found a few people, he mixed with them without taking rather hearing or observing them. He took on the role of observer, and this gave him a kind of observing power that allowed him to easily detect game mistakes better than the players themselves. He never supported any political party.
Addison thought that a man like him should write to the public to help them with his knowledge and experience. And he took a decision that every morning he would write a sheet about his thoughts and experiences because he did not want to share orally. He would thus communicate with people through his writing and he would satisfy himself saying that his life had not been vain.
Lastly, he says that he doesn’t want to reveal his identity and some other personal information. Anyway, this is the end of our topic the spectators account on himself s summary.
You can read the summary of Richard Steele:
– Sir Roger at Church Summary
