Writing style of Charles Lamb

 

Lamb establishes a unique position in the history of English essays. Though he began his literary career as a poet, he is remembered today for his innovative and remarkable essays – ‘The Essays of Elia’  is his famous essay collection.. He is an eminent essayist of the early nineteenth century and belongs to the group of romantic essayists. He has often been called the prince of all the essayist England has so far produced.. We may not find in him the massive genius of Bacon, or the the brilliant lucidity of Addison, or the vigorous energy of Dr. Johnson, but none excels him in the ability to charm the reader with the element of his self-reflection in his essays.

 

Highly subjective in style

His essays are intimate expression of his mind. He resembles Montaigne, the French essayist, in this respect. He reveals much of himself indirectly and incidentally in his essays and as a result his essays can be called his best biography. We see his love for relatives and friends and his devotion to his sister. He mentions many place names in his essays which are linked with his past and these places are like living characters in his mind. In his essays we get to see Lamb the man - his affection, loyalty, uncomplaining endurance, simplicity, likes and dislikes, sportive humour and serious moods. His essays are intensely personal and subjective. They cover a great variety of topics, but the approach is always personal. 

 

Fusion of humour and pathos

In many of Lamb’s essays we find a perfect blend of humour and pathos. This striking fusion gives a peculiar flavour to his essays. A touch of morbidity (unhealthy) in him makes him dwell upon the melancholic aspect of things. At the same time being endowed with a keen power of observation he could perceive the funny side of things. It is Lamb’s perception that everything in life has at once fortunate and unfortunate which makes him fuse humour with pathos. He combines the two apparent opposites – the joyous and the pathetic by full sympathy with each and it is this unique blend that makes his style special and makes his essays memorable. In “The Praise of Chimney-Sweepers” he arouses our sympathy for the poor and unfortunate young fellows and at the same time amuses us by his description of the chimney-sweepers and their teeth. The description of the disappearance of a young chimney- sweeper entering a chimney and his reappearance, after doing his job, at the top amuses us. Again Lamb’s account of how some of these chimney-sweepers might have been kidnapped in their infancy from the aristocratic homes where they were born appeals to our feelings of compassion and evokes our sympathy. The essay “Dream Children: A Reverie”, though primarily an essay characterised by tragic quality, has several touches of humour in the description of the reaction of the imaginary children. A vein of humour runs throughout the essay, but there are many touching episodes in it. 

 

His unique style

Lamb's style is highly subjective or the expression of his personality. His style is obviously inimitable and faultless. His essays have the charm of poetry. Conversational ease, emotional depth and flexibility. Lamb's style was natural and original. He often used archaic latinised words. He frequently uses irony (means the opposite) and pun (double meaning).