WAS THACKERAY A CYNIC?

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1222, 2 September 1911, Page 9

WAS THACKERAY A CYNIC?

' On tho Thackeray ccnteuary there was much discussion of the question: Was lis a'cynic? Below are the verdicts of somo prominent pr«sent-<la,v authors. 111-. William do Morgan wrote:— "Dear Sir, —Tho youth who was asked for his definition of a rhomboid replied, 'That depends on what ..you call a rhomboid.' "In reply to the question your lot-tor asks me, I can only say that it must depend on what you call a Cynic, whether Thacksray deserved that name or not. "I gather from the nearest hook of . reference that I can lay hands on at this moment that the Cynics 'neglected tho convoniencss of life,' and ultimately 'became so disgusting from their impudence, dirty habits, anil begging, that they oonsed to be regardod with any respect.' "I have therefore every reason to believe, although I had. not tho great good fortune to know him, that William Jlakepeaoe Thackeray was not, historically speaking, a Cynic. "The non-historical .definition seems to bo 'an ill-natured person who says bitter things.' But the bitterest things arc always said—at least, such is my experience—by the most tender-hearted people. If my belief is right, Thackeray lias still a chanco of being called a Cynic rightly. "I do not thinlt it is important to decide whether he was or was nc-t a Cynic. I wish more Cynics were Tbackornys. "Incidentally, I may remark that I often, hear this word used as if it wero synonymous with misanthrope." Jlr. IMen Phillpotts wrote that "we are all cynics when tho wind is in tho cast": ''Every man who lives in the world and writes of human beings must sometimes perccivo his subject in a cynical light. We are all cynics when the wind is in the east. Did Thackeray take his art cynically? I think he ollen did, and to me there lies real offence. 13ut I cannot presume to discuss a very great artist whose work is antipathetic to me." Mr. A. C. Benson said. "The question is a very interesting one. Or courso it all depends upon ones definition of a cynic. 1 take the meaning of cynicism to bo that a man who is a cynic ultimately, and at tho bottom of his heart, does not believe in human goodness, but thinks that virtuo is merely a question of selfish motive, and that the real aim of human beings is to enjoy themselves as much as they can without reference to others. Tho cynic does not believe in self-sacrifice or disinterestedness and if a man's actions seem to be unselfish, the cynic would hold that this was only with some ulterior object in view, and that the man had an eye to the main chanco all the time. "Of ooursa tho painful fact is 'that there are a good many people in tiic world who do live on these lines, and whoso aim is frankly selfish. I don't think it cynical to se-9 this or to say it, Thaekcray had a very keen eye for the weaknesses and pretences of mortal na-tii;-c; but I don't fee! any doubt tnysell that ho did believe, in the depths oi his heart, in human love and human goodness—which belief is not the same thine at all ns a fvoble optimism, ar rived at by shutting ono's eyes to hart facts, and by proclaiming everywhere, in spite nf evidence, that all human being.aro affectionato and pood. I thmk thai Thackeray felt that goodness and lovt wero tho strongest forces in the world.

and daily growing stronger; wliilo his very clear-sighted consciousucrs of the opposing forces of self-interest and greediness, and his frank statement of the same,' nro what ha'vo 'earned him a reputation for', cynicism, which in m>' belief is wholly undeserved." An even stronger vindication of Thackeray came from Mr. Hichard Whiteins: "Aro there any people still living who think Thackeray was a cynic, that is to say, a-creature with a sort of snarling, (log-like framo of mind about his kind? Every page seems to belie that.' There mijht be some slight foundation for the view of him as a sentimentalist, if only one'knew what the word meant/ He wns simply a fivst-clasr, writer whops only aim was tho ono that has stood the test of time—to make people laugh, or to make thcni cry, or to make them swear. Ho did all by turns with supreme power, and in spite of his recently-published letter was the last person in the world of letters to bear any latal big enough to mako a garment for him."