Question: Consider The Coverly Papers as a social document and a moral commentary.

Answer: Addison’s spectator papers portray the life of the contemporary society of the author in a very vivid and accurate manner. These papers are a very valuable document for our knowledge of 18th-century social life. Though in writing this periodical which was started by Steele, Addison called himself a spectator, his main object was to play the role of a critic of 18th-century life and morals. These spectator papers deal with a variety of subjects and almost all the aspects of contemporary social life have been touched very aptly in these papers. Actually, Addison and Steele’s main aim was to point out to the people their weaknesses and absurdities and thus effect a reform in social life.

Through the spectator Papers Addison sought to bring about reformation and regeneration in the morals and man regeneration in the general education of the masses. Addison wanted to bring out the moral philosophy from the libraries and closets and to dwell in the tea tables, coffee houses, public places etc.

As a subtle reformer, Addison devoted his attention to the observation of man and manners and he believed that these, not the institutions, needed reformation. He did not want to deal with the question of high philosophy which favoured only scholars and pedants. He wanted to deal with the common people, their manners, conversation, fashions, extravagances and others. His main aim was to ‘banish the vices and ignorance from the territory of Great Britain.’ His target was to “reprehend the vices which are too trivial for the chastisement of the law and too fantastical for the cognizance of the law.” In many of his papers, Addison satirized the coarser vices like gambling, drinking, duelling, practical jokes, cruelty etc.

Addison wanted to establish a national standard of conduct in morals and manner and art and literature. He aimed at moderation and induced others to follow the practice of moderation. Addison disliked the rashness in life and he believed if people are morally taught then many vices of society would be removed easily.

Contemporary country life has been very conspicuously and vividly portrayed by Addison in his Papers. The pleasure-seeking country squires’ lives have been sarcastically portrayed by the author. Through the character of Sir Roger Addison portrayed the social life of the country squires. Sir Royer ruled the country’s people with benevolence and skill. The lower community of people who are ignorant looked at their superiors with great wonder and admiration. The country people who were illiterate and superstitious were always eager to go in contact with the imposing country squires. Sir Roger whispered into the ear of the judge and all the people assembled in the court hall were impressed. The country people were astonished to see the familiar and intimate relationship of Sir Roger with the judge. Hence, when Sir Roger stood up to deliver a speech of little importance the assembled people were impressed and a whisper went around among them. Sir Roger was also religious. He went to the church to worship on Sundays. He passed his time hunting foxes and ruling his old servants.

Through the character of Will Wimble Addison has depicted the idle life of the younger son of the ancient family. Will Wimble hates trade and commerce. He wanders here and there from the only country to another and visits the country squires. He passes away his time doing nothing but in quest of pleasure. Will Honeycomb is another character through which the fops and the fashionable gallants of the then society have been represented.

The centre of the social literary and political activities of the then society did not escape Addison’s pen. The coffee houses were the centre of the political acclivities. It is said that at one time there were not less than three thousand coffee houses in London. If anybody was not to be found in the house, he must have to be found in the coffee houses. The people gathered in the coffee houses, sipped their beloved coffee and discussed politics, literature and on other topics hour after hour. In the first paper, ‘The Spectator’ Addison says that he visits important coffee houses to be acquainted with the diverse aspects of life.

One of the main sections of the society which Addison has addressed is the women folk of his contemporary society. The women were very much fashionable and imposing. They were like fluttering butterflies. They used to keep curly hair decorated with artificial flowers. They wore monstrous hooped petticoats gathered at the waist which made them resemble go-carts. The gallants used to wear periwigs and a sword at the waist. The ladies used to go to the theatre hall with their fans. They passed their valuable time gossipping and lovemaking.

The political situation of the then society has been touched very much praiseworthily by Addison. During his lifetime Addison found two prevalent political parties in England Whig and Tory. These two political parties grouped the people of England into two groups. Though Addison was a supporter of the Whig Party, he always desired to maintain the constitution of England out and out. Addison proclaimed that people should have only known that they were the citizens of England and had to perform their duties and responsibilities. It does not matter, according to Addison, whether a person is a Whig or troy.

In fact, the spectator Papers possess a satirical tone but we find that Addison did not exaggerate the follies and foibles of society. He portrayed what he himself viewed. Actually, his papers are a reliable document of his contemporary society and going through these papers we can have a glimpse of the social, political and moral life of 18th-century England.