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Robert Burton (scholar)
Encyclopedia
Robert Burton was an English
scholar at Oxford University
, best known for the classic The Anatomy of Melancholy
. He was also the incumbent of St Thomas the Martyr, Oxford, and of Segrave in Leicestershire.
, Robert Burton was the son of Ralph Burton and the brother of William Burton
the antiquary. Burton spent most of his life at Oxford, first as a pupil at Brasenose College
, and then as a student (the equivalent of a fellow at other Oxford and Cambridge colleges) of Christ Church
. He studied a large number of diverse subjects, many of which informed the study of melancholia
, for which he is chiefly famous. He was appointed vicar
of St Thomas' Church in Oxford in 1616, and in 1630 he was also made the rector
of Segrave
, Leicester
.
Burton was a mathematician and dabbled in astrology
. When not depressed he was an amusing companion, "very merry, facete, and juvenile," and a person of "great honesty, plain dealing, and charity." Merry, indeed, Burton had favourite sources for laughter. In 1728 Bishop Kennet
wrote that:
There was a rumour that Burton hanged himself in his chambers at Christ Church.
Burton was buried at Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford
.
Burton's Melancholy focuses sharply on the self; unlike Bacon, Burton assumes that knowledge of psychology, not natural science, is humankind's greatest need. His enormous treatise is considered "delightful" by critics; it examines in encyclopaedic detail the ubiquitous Jacobean malady, melancholy, supposedly caused by an excess of "black bile," according to the humor theory
fashionable at the time.
Melancholy was responsible, according to Burton and others, for the wild passions and despairs of lovers, the agonies and ecstasies of religious devotees, the frenzies of madmen, and the studious abstraction exemplified by scholars such as Shakespeare or Milton.
He wrote The Anatomy of Melancholy largely to write himself out of being a lifelong sufferer from depression
. As he described his condition in the preface "Democritus Junior to the Reader,"
Therefore, the treatise itself was intended as treatment. Again, from the preface:
However, this sentence may also be interpreted ironically
, as Burton is citing a well-known adage
of the time. Indeed, the entire preface is quite satirical in nature — at one point Burton pretends to warn melancholic people to avoid his book for fear of exacerbating their symptoms:
The parenthetical aside is meant to be tongue-in-cheek.
The work, published under the pseudonym Democritus Junior in 1621, was quite popular. In the words of Thomas Warton
:
Many later writers were deeply influenced by the book's odd mix of pan-scholarship, humour, linguistic skill, and creative (if highly approximate) insights. This influence was so strong that later writers sometimes drew from the work without acknowledgment (such accusations were levelled at Laurence Sterne
's book Tristram Shandy).
Samuel Johnson
considered it one of his favourite books, being "the only book that ever took him out of bed two hours sooner than he wished to rise". The book has continued as a favourite among many 20th and 21st-century authors, such as Anthony Burgess
(who said "Most modern books weary me, but Burton never does"), William H. Gass (who wrote the introduction to the 2001 omnibus edition), and Llewelyn Powys
(who dubbed it "the greatest work of prose of the greatest period of English prose-writing"). Apart from The Anatomy of Melancholy Burton's only other published work is Philosophaster
, a satirical
Latin
comedy
.
Online texts
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
scholar at Oxford University
University of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096...
, best known for the classic The Anatomy of Melancholy
The Anatomy of Melancholy
The Anatomy of Melancholy The Anatomy of Melancholy The Anatomy of Melancholy (Full title: The Anatomy of Melancholy, What it is: With all the Kinds, Causes, Symptomes, Prognostickes, and Several Cures of it. In Three Maine Partitions with their several Sections, Members, and Subsections...
. He was also the incumbent of St Thomas the Martyr, Oxford, and of Segrave in Leicestershire.
Life
He was born at Lindley, LeicestershireLeicestershire
Leicestershire is a landlocked county in the English Midlands. It takes its name from the heavily populated City of Leicester, traditionally its administrative centre, although the City of Leicester unitary authority is today administered separately from the rest of Leicestershire...
, Robert Burton was the son of Ralph Burton and the brother of William Burton
William Burton (antiquary, died 1645)
William Burton was an English antiquarian, best known as the author of Description of Leicestershire.-Life:...
the antiquary. Burton spent most of his life at Oxford, first as a pupil at Brasenose College
Brasenose College, Oxford
Brasenose College, originally Brazen Nose College , is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom. As of 2006, it has an estimated financial endowment of £98m...
, and then as a student (the equivalent of a fellow at other Oxford and Cambridge colleges) of Christ Church
Christ Church, Oxford
Christ Church or house of Christ, and thus sometimes known as The House), is one of the largest constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England...
. He studied a large number of diverse subjects, many of which informed the study of melancholia
Melancholia
Melancholia , also lugubriousness, from the Latin lugere, to mourn; moroseness, from the Latin morosus, self-willed, fastidious habit; wistfulness, from old English wist: intent, or saturnine, , in contemporary usage, is a mood disorder of non-specific depression,...
, for which he is chiefly famous. He was appointed vicar
Vicar
In the broadest sense, a vicar is a representative, deputy or substitute; anyone acting "in the person of" or agent for a superior . In this sense, the title is comparable to lieutenant...
of St Thomas' Church in Oxford in 1616, and in 1630 he was also made the rector
Rector
The word rector has a number of different meanings; it is widely used to refer to an academic, religious or political administrator...
of Segrave
Segrave
Segrave is a surname and can refer to:An English baronial family:*Stephen de Segrave a judge*Gilbert de Segrave , who was also a judge*Nicholas de Segrave, 1st Baron Segrave *John de Segrave...
, Leicester
Leicester
Leicester is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands of England, and the county town of Leicestershire. The city lies on the River Soar and at the edge of the National Forest...
.
Burton was a mathematician and dabbled in astrology
Astrology
Astrology consists of a number of belief systems which hold that there is a relationship between astronomical phenomena and events in the human world...
. When not depressed he was an amusing companion, "very merry, facete, and juvenile," and a person of "great honesty, plain dealing, and charity." Merry, indeed, Burton had favourite sources for laughter. In 1728 Bishop Kennet
White Kennett
White Kennett was an English bishop and antiquarian.-Life:He was born at Dover. He was educated at Westminster School and at St Edmund Hall, Oxford, where, while an undergraduate, he published several translations of Latin works, including Erasmus' In Praise of Folly.Kennett was vicar of...
wrote that:
There was a rumour that Burton hanged himself in his chambers at Christ Church.
Burton was buried at Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford
Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford
Christ Church Cathedral is the cathedral of the diocese of Oxford, which consists of the counties of Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Berkshire. It is also, uniquely, the chapel of Christ Church, a college of the University of Oxford.-History:...
.
Work
Humor theory
Humor theory can refer to:*Theory of humor*Humorism, a theory in ancient Greek and Roman medicine...
fashionable at the time.
Melancholy was responsible, according to Burton and others, for the wild passions and despairs of lovers, the agonies and ecstasies of religious devotees, the frenzies of madmen, and the studious abstraction exemplified by scholars such as Shakespeare or Milton.
He wrote The Anatomy of Melancholy largely to write himself out of being a lifelong sufferer from depression
Depression (mood)
Depression is a state of low mood and aversion to activity that can affect a person's thoughts, behaviour, feelings and physical well-being. Depressed people may feel sad, anxious, empty, hopeless, helpless, worthless, guilty, irritable, or restless...
. As he described his condition in the preface "Democritus Junior to the Reader,"
Therefore, the treatise itself was intended as treatment. Again, from the preface:
However, this sentence may also be interpreted ironically
Irony
Irony is a rhetorical device, literary technique, or situation in which there is a sharp incongruity or discordance that goes beyond the simple and evident intention of words or actions...
, as Burton is citing a well-known adage
Adage
An adage is a short but memorable saying which holds some important fact of experience that is considered true by many people, or that has gained some credibility through its long use....
of the time. Indeed, the entire preface is quite satirical in nature — at one point Burton pretends to warn melancholic people to avoid his book for fear of exacerbating their symptoms:
The parenthetical aside is meant to be tongue-in-cheek.
The work, published under the pseudonym Democritus Junior in 1621, was quite popular. In the words of Thomas Warton
Thomas Warton
Thomas Warton was an English literary historian, critic, and poet. From 1785 to 1790 he was the Poet Laureate of England...
:
Many later writers were deeply influenced by the book's odd mix of pan-scholarship, humour, linguistic skill, and creative (if highly approximate) insights. This influence was so strong that later writers sometimes drew from the work without acknowledgment (such accusations were levelled at Laurence Sterne
Laurence Sterne
Laurence Sterne was an Irish novelist and an Anglican clergyman. He is best known for his novels The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman, and A Sentimental Journey Through France and Italy; but he also published many sermons, wrote memoirs, and was involved in local politics...
's book Tristram Shandy).
Samuel Johnson
Samuel Johnson
Samuel Johnson , often referred to as Dr. Johnson, was an English author who made lasting contributions to English literature as a poet, essayist, moralist, literary critic, biographer, editor and lexicographer...
considered it one of his favourite books, being "the only book that ever took him out of bed two hours sooner than he wished to rise". The book has continued as a favourite among many 20th and 21st-century authors, such as Anthony Burgess
Anthony Burgess
John Burgess Wilson – who published under the pen name Anthony Burgess – was an English author, poet, playwright, composer, linguist, translator and critic. The dystopian satire A Clockwork Orange is Burgess's most famous novel, though he dismissed it as one of his lesser works...
(who said "Most modern books weary me, but Burton never does"), William H. Gass (who wrote the introduction to the 2001 omnibus edition), and Llewelyn Powys
Llewelyn Powys
Llewelyn Powys was a British writer and younger brother of John Cowper Powys and T. F. Powys.-Life:Powys was born in Dorchester, the son of a clergyman, and was educated at Sherborne School and Corpus Christi College, Cambridge. While lecturing in the United States he contracted tuberculosis...
(who dubbed it "the greatest work of prose of the greatest period of English prose-writing"). Apart from The Anatomy of Melancholy Burton's only other published work is Philosophaster
Philosophaster
Philosophaster is a Latin satirical comedy by Robert Burton. Since the play is about someone who pretends to be a philosopher, the term itself has been used in more recent times to refer to a pretender to philosophy....
, a satirical
Satire
Satire is primarily a literary genre or form, although in practice it can also be found in the graphic and performing arts. In satire, vices, follies, abuses, and shortcomings are held up to ridicule, ideally with the intent of shaming individuals, and society itself, into improvement...
Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
comedy
Comedy
Comedy , as a popular meaning, is any humorous discourse or work generally intended to amuse by creating laughter, especially in television, film, and stand-up comedy. This must be carefully distinguished from its academic definition, namely the comic theatre, whose Western origins are found in...
.
External links
- Review and quotes at Complete-review.com
- Entry at the Columbia Encyclopedia
- The BBC's "In Our Time" discusses The Anatomy of Melancholy.
Online texts