THE PERIODICAL ESSAY
THE PERIODICAL ESSAY
A periodical essay is an essay that is, a short work of non-fiction published in a magazine or journal. In particular, an essay that appears as part of a series.
The 18th century is considered the great age of the periodical essay in English. Notable periodical essayists of the 18th century include Joseph Addison, Richard Steele, Samuel Johnson, and Oliver Goldsmith.
The periodical essay became popular in the 18th century especially with the publication of the 'Tatler' and 'The Spectator'. The essays that began to appear in the periodicals drew their inspiration from the social life of the people. It was Defoe's weekly 'Review' that had started the vogue.
In Steele's 'Tatler' and later in 'The Spectator' published by Steele and Addison, the periodical essay reached perfection. The objective of Steele and Addison was to expose the false arts of life and to provide moral and social guidance to their readers. The daily essays that appeared in in the 550 issues of 'The Spectator' were intended to 'enliven morality with wit and temper wit with morality' as Addison claimed. For the first time, the essay was employed to serve a distinctly social purpose
The periodical essay was adapted for literary criticism and delineation of character. Addison's essay delineating the character of 'The Spectacular' and the several essays by Steele and Addison on the imaginary character Sir Roger de Coverley are examples of how journalistic writings could attain artistic perfection.
There were other journals which encouraged the growth of the periodical essay. Dr. Johnson's essay appeared in the 'Rambler' and later in the 'Idler'. These essays were primarily of journalistic nature in spite of their wit, scholarship and good sense.
Swift also contributed to the journals though he was mainly a pamphleteer.
Goldsmith's delightful series of essays 'The Citizen of the World' first appeared in the journal 'The Public Ledger'. Several of his essays also appeared in the 'Bee' and the 'British Magazine'.
Like Addison and Steele earlier, Goldsmith also used his essays as occasions to make witty and shrewd comments on English character and social life. These essays are replete with personal touches and are charming and elegant revealing the amiable nature of the writer.
The periodical essay continued to survive but there was hardly any significant contribution to the essay for some time until in the 19th century Charles Lamb transformed the very concept of the essay through his writings full of personal confessions and tender pathos.
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