Man of Feeling by Henry Mackenzie Research Paper

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Henry Mackenzie's novel "The man of feeling." There are two main issue that we are going to address. The first one is demonstrating that the book under discussion is really a representative example of the sentimental novel genre.

The second one is an attempt to understand what is the novel's place in forming and evoking the concept of "nation."

In order to demonstrate that the book is part of the sentimental novel genre, we ought to be able to recognize the main features which characterize it. Derived from the domestic novel, the sentimental one was a popular genre at the time when Mackenzie wrote it. Meant to be a reaction to the generally diffused idea according to which humanity was depraved, the sentimental novel wishes to demonstrate the fact that human nature is inherently good.

In addition to that this type of novel wishes to provide its readers with a model of conduct. Naturally the focus is on sentiment, sentimentalism and sensibility. And it can be stated that the main character of the book under discussion is a living proof of a human behaviour based on the three coordinates which have been mentioned above. "His remarks were few, and made only to his familiar friends; but they were such as the world might have heard with veneration: and his heart, uncorrupted by its ways, was ever warm in the cause of virtue and his friends."

It must be underlined right from the very beginning that the purpose of the sentimental novel is to cause a strong emotional response in the readers. Even more, the characters are described as undergoing events and passion which have them living emotional experiences which are extremely powerful. In an era in which reason was believed to have failed in man's attempt to understand himself and the universe, sympathy becomes the link which unites people. People are considered to act based upon innate instincts, which are either good or bad " On something like a bed, lay a man with a face seemingly emaciated with sickness, and a look of patient dejection.

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A bundle of dirty shreds served him as a pillow, but he had a better support, the arm of a female who kneeled beside him, beautiful as an angel, but with a fading languor in her countenance, the still life of melancholy, that seemed to borrow its shade from the object on which she gazed."

The actions of our hero Harley demonstrate that man is kind and benevolent. In fact benevolence represents a key word "Her beneficence was unbounded; indeed the natural tenderness of her heart might have been argued, by the frigidity of a casuist, as detracting from her virtue in this respect, for her humanity was a feeling, not a principle: but minds like Harley's are not very apt to make this distinction, and generally give our virtue credit for all that benevolence which is instinctive in our nature."

One of the main philosophical concepts which can be found at the basis of the sentimental novel is represented by the belief that being true to one's feelings helps man surpass his condition as victim of evilness and falseness. The benevolent people demonstrate not only their superiority to the ones which are fowl, but they are a living proof that happiness and goodness are connected. Acting out of sympathy for the other - Harley's father had taken him up an orphan, and saved him from being cast on the parish; and he had ever since remained in the service of him and of his son."-is what everybody ought to do. What we have therefore is a strong valorisation of fine feeling "Virtue held back his arm; but a milder form, a younger sister of Virtue's, not so severe as Virtue,….....

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