Towards the second decade of the eighteenth century, Joseph Addison and Richard Steele initiated a

satirical newspaper called The Spectator. The Spectator was published by Addison and Steele in
1711-12 and then again in 1714. Professionally, they dared the Spectator because of the success of
Steele’s Tatler. The articles appeared daily from Monday to Saturday. Often, the target was
contemporary politics and the principle target of address would be the politicians, both the Whigs and
the Tories. Conventionally, the publishers remained anonymous, and they further filtered their
opinions. They used fictional figures to highlight the follies of the contemporary society. The
principle and primary invented character was Mr. Spectator – as the name suggests, he was “a
spectator of mankind”. Other characters included Sir Roger D. Coverly, a gentleman, quite outspoken;
Sir Andrew Freeport – the city merchant. “The General purpose of the whole has been to recommend
truth, honour, and virtue as the chief ornaments of life.” – Tatler. They talked about the class
discrimination of English society, the extent of rural poverty. Other topics included the sport of
hunting, the issues of love and marriage. Other essays addressed literary topics. Other sets of essays
addressed literary topics, including Milton’s works, the rising popularity of science, the relationship
between science and religion.

Sir Roger

 This is Spectator (essay no. 106). It centres on the character of Sir Roger D. Coverly who is a
mixture of all that we are humanity, hospitality, love, disappointment, honesty, goodness,
fear, hatred, superstition. Mr. Spectator visits Sir Roger’s country seat.
 The Spectator informs the readers how Sir Roger ensured that his stay is pleasant and
inviting, taking pains to cater to every comfort.
 The essay begins with an epigraph from Horace, derived from the Greek word “epigraphein”
which means “to write on”. It establishes the tone and content of the narrative which is to
follow as it is temperamentally in keeping with the authoritative observer that the Spectator is.
The Spectator is reason, rationality and he exercises moral purpose to study human
characteristics and manners and to deliver judgements on them. The first person narrative
ensures legitimacy of the “voice”, which with its elegant wit and controlled prose style offers
a wholesome view of 18th century English upper class members of society.
 In the country house, Mr. Spectator is to stay for a month, “when I intend to form several of
my ensuing speculations.” He is reserved man, deeply contemplative, averse to be observed
by others because that is a role by which he defines himself – it is his professional act; his
reserve is required for the task he is undertaking. Sir Roger understands this aspect of the
Spectator’s nature and therefore, does not impose hospitality and remains withdrawn with his
curiosity regarding the attitude of the Spectator. Mr. Spectator and Sir Roger share a
harmonious and flexible relationship where Sir Roger’s exuberant jollity is in conscious
 contrast with the balanced introvert nature of Mr. Spectator. Mr. Spectator is a “city man” and
hence there will naturally be curiosity among Sir Roger’s gentlemen friends from the country.
The city man is often a spectacle for the country folk. It had remained so since the beginning
of the civilization because of the binaries between the rural and the urban. The cultural and
the political divide between the two characterise the socio – economic landscape of all times.
 Sir Roger has his peculiarities and his eccentricities but he is never caricatured or held up for
ridicule of the readers for whom Addison addresses. On contrary, there is a consistency in
their friendship caused by coexistence, a mutual respect for very different world from which
we come.
 That which impresses Mr. Spectator about Sir Roger and his values and attributes which are
recognised by Addison as universal human ideals. “I am the more at ease in Sir Roger’s
family, because it consists of sober and staid persons...he seldom changes his servants...” –
this is Sir Roger’s benevolent paternalism with respect to the relationship with the “master”
and the “servant”.
 Sir Roger is appreciated within the system as a more humane master who believes in retaining
his servants and treating them justly by securing their service for life. Valet de Chambre could
be mistaken for Sir Roger’s brother; such is the cordiality of relationship between the master
and servant. The Spectator sites the master’s “goodness”, “care” and tenderness” and suggests
that the squire isn’t solely driven by utilitarian motives but truly cares fit the men and animals
in his household and under his authority.
 Sir Roger is not the exploitative, soulless lord of his estate, Addison breaks from the pattern
of Restoration comedies where the country squires was symbolic of unsophisticated and
simplistic mannerisms. There are repeated references to the master and those who work under
him: “I could not but observe with a great deal of pleasure, the countenances that appeared on
these ancient domestics upon my friend’s arrival at his country seat. Some of them could not
refrain from tears at the sight of their old master”. Sir Roger becomes a New Testament
Godly figure, an epitome of kindness triggering great, passionate outbursts in his servants
who are cast in the role of the faithful congregation. He’s both the father and the master.
Thus, legitimizing the traditional master’s role within a feudal agricultural economy where
the father necessarily plays the role of authority.
 Mr. Spectator also notes that the general mood of the household is dependent on the health
and humour of the master, thus establishing the all embracing influence of Sir Roger over his
estate and its inheritance. It is as though the estate is an extension of its owner’s spirit.
 The other character briefly introduced in the essay as the Spectator’s chief companion is a
“very venerable man, who is ever with Sir Roger, and has lived at his house in the nature of a
 chaplain above thirty years”. This man is described as a gentleman of “good sense” and
“some learning” maintaining a moderate life and being easy to converse with.
 These are the general social attributes sought for by Mr. Spectator in his role as a
commentator. Rationality tempered by knowledge is one of the central preoccupations of the
spectator series. There is a simultaneous reference to regular life which is in keeping which is
in keeping with the protestant ethic of moderation. This man too is dependent on Sir Roger
and attests to the squire’s extensive patronage and benevolence. According to both Sir Roger
and Mr. Spectator, good scholarship is important in a clergyman but it must not become so
elevated that it’s meaning and purpose is lost in obscure grandeur. That which is desired as
essential characteristic is “plain sense” along with a “clear voice” and “sociable temper”.
Outlining the lessons learnt from the examples of Sir Roger’s chaplain, the Spectator suggests
that all country clergies follow the same. There’s a certain condescension of the country
audience of the parsonage and the literary merits of the country clergy, perhaps less capability
of the originality of thoughts. It is an irony played out in 18 th century literary landscape where
author’s like Addison and Steele are seen to innovate and enrich the English language with a
new genre and altered writing style that would discard the imitation of the classical aesthetic
principles. Mr. Spectator defines his friend as a “humorist” whose virtues as well as
imperfections are eccentricities and a certain extravagance which distinguishes him from
other men. He is a character subject to impulses and fancies and sadly Sir Roger is the symbol
of a declining rural class aristocrat. Throughout the essay, Mr. Spectator addresses the unique
vibrant personality of Sir Roger.

Sir Roger at Church is one of the seminal essays published by Addison as a part of The Spectator.
(intro)

The essay reflects Addison’s views about the significance of the Church in bringing together the rural
community of England into an accommodative social construct. Addison adheres to the conventions
of Enlightenment as he offers a critical view of religious practices. Addison’s celebration of
Bourgeoisie or capitalist values also means that he looked at the church as an institution for the
perpetuation of feudal hegemony. Addison takes into consideration the critique of the ecclesiastical
institution; he takes into simultaneous consideration the vital importance of the village communities
as an essential aspect of contemporary English class system. Sir Roger is depicted both as a landed
country gentleman and an individual with excellences and the eccentricities: “A gentleman of
Worcestershire of ancient descent...” His oddities and amiabilities are endearing and admirable and
create a light satirical laughter. His singularities proceed from his good sense – he is a kind,
magnanimous host to his friends, a benevolent landlord to his tenants, a fatherly master to his
servants.
Addison introduces the local squire Sir Roger at a church congregation on a Sunday. He locates the
intimacy of the squire with the chaplain with regard to the functioning of the church. In the process,
Addison exposes how the devices if domination were sustained through the acts of spirituality and
benevolence. For Addison, the church is another instance of the several structures of exploitative
conformity prevalent during his times.

Sir Roger had remained a bachelor, as a consequence of his disappointed in love with a perverse
widow at the age of 23. It has altered his attitude towards life, his personality as a Knight. He’s now
oblivious with the current fashion. He is often incoherent and inconsistent. Addison is amused at Sir
Roger, repeats “Amen” several times when all others have already ended their prayer. Addison
however ensures that the reader never is in ridicule of the character. The authority Sir Roger wealds in
the country church are a discomfort to Tory feudalism. One of these feudal principals was the
privilege given to large land owners and they controlled the exercise over the local parish. The
landowners retained their ability to appoint the clergymen and clerks. Sir Roger promised to choose
the next clerk based on merit; it is an admirable notion but as Mr. Spectator observes, this decision
again upholds his absolute authority. Sir Roger is the landlord of the whole congregation. He keeps
them in good order and he “will suffer nobody to sleep in it besides himself”. Mr. Spectator observes
that the Squire routinely caused disruptions such as lengthening the verses of the psalms, standing
while others were leaning so as to note any absences and interrupting the sermon to tell people not to
disrupt the congregation. The worthiness of his character made these behavioural oddities acceptable.
Mr. Spectator ensures that Sir Roger’s love for the high Anglican Church is never mocked at as
backward, rural, Tory, conduct. We laugh at Sir Roger’s unreasonableness but the Spectator ensures
that we develop feelings of respect and love towards him for his humanity, charity and generosity.

In his detailed description of worship in the parish, Mr. Spectator in the essay provides the picture of
the manner in which social relations between the elites, the clergy and the people were cohered
through religion. His fictional Tory Squire encourages his villagers and tenants to participate in
disciplined worship in descent manner. He provides each member of the congregation with a Prayer
Book and the hassock so that they can meet and join together in responses. He rails the alter and has
religious text written on the walls. He rewards those children who perform their prayers well. He is,
for Mr. Spectator, the manifestation of the ideal idea of worship within the culture of 18 th century
Church of England.