Alexander Pope

Alexander Pope
Thomas Hudson, National Portrait Gallery, London, Alexander Pope

Wednesday, December 1, 2010

Johnson's Portrait of Swift, by Jordan Richman

As an 18th century form of literature the biography parallels the novel and history. All three forms are in the words of Samuel Johnson in the pursuit of "knowledge, virtue and truth." However, readers past and present have not always found Johnsonian biography diverting because they felt he allowed his prejudices to intervene with his search for the truth.

Is there a difference between "prejudicial" biography and "subjective" biography?

The word "prejudice" equals an irrational dislike or antagonism toward some individual or group.
The term "subjective" refers to a point of view determined by time, place, and conditioning all factors that lead to value formation.

It is my contention that Johnson's biographical techniques were designed to show his clashes with other people's values not their personalities. When these clashes occur the sparks fly.

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