In this episode Alice discusses A Note on Oliver Goldsmith's Creation The Man in Black. Find notes here: https://www.classwithmason.com/2023/04/the-man-in-black-by-goldsmith-summary.html
Welcome to classwithmason.com. I'm your host, Alice, and today we're diving into an insightful essay by Oliver Goldsmith titled The Man in Black. This essay gives us a candid look at the society of Goldsmith's time, where economic and moral decline left many people struggling in poverty and despair.
Goldsmith doesn't directly call for reform but instead introduces us to the mysterious man in black as a means to expose these societal flaws. Through this character, Goldsmith not only shares his own perspectives but also critiques the norms of the time, advocating for a more compassionate and empathetic society.
Now, let's talk a bit about Oliver Goldsmith himself. He's widely known for his literary masterpieces, including the novel The Vicar of Wakefield, the play She Stoops to Conquer, and his essays in The Citizen of the World, from which The Man in Black is taken.
In this essay, Goldsmith adopts the persona of Oltangi, a Chinese philosopher, to narrate his interactions with The Man in Black, who represents a complex combination of humor, humanism, and contradiction. So who exactly is the man in black? On the surface, he comes across as a miser and a misanthrope, but beneath that exterior lies a kind heart.
Though he appears cynical, his actions often reveal his true nature, a deeply generous and empathetic soul. For example, when all Tangi and the man in black are out walking, they encounter a beggar. Though the man in black criticizes beggars in conversation, he secretly slips a silver coin to the man, all while pretending to remain indifferent. This act of charity goes unnoticed or so he thinks.
He reprimands the beggar for what he believes to be a false sob story, but his actions betray his words. This tension between his outward persona and his inward compassion is a recurring theme throughout the essay. One of the most telling moments occurs when the man in black meets a sailor with a wooden leg.
After hearing the sailor's story about how he lost his leg, the man in black, moved by his bravery, immediately offers a shilling. He doesn't hesitate, his heart compels him to help, despite his earlier harsh words. The same pattern repeats when he encounters a poor woman, tattered and carrying two children.
She's singing a sad song that blurs the line between weeping and singing, and the man in black, deeply moved by her plight, instinctively reaches into his pocket to help. Unfortunately, he realizes he has nothing left to give and his inability to aid her weighs heavily on him. through these encounters, we see the depth of the man in black's character.
While his exterior is cold and severe, his actions reveal a man of deep compassion. He may not openly admit his generosity, but his spirit shines through in moments of quiet charity. Goldsmith uses this character to remind us that sometimes human goodness is hidden behind a harsh exterior and that empathy and kindness are often found in unexpected places.
That's all for today's discussion on Oliver Goldsmith's The Man in Black. I hope this gave you some valuable insights into the complexities of the essay and the world Goldsmith was critiquing.