The Life of Samuel Johnson

Johnson rents a house near Lichfield and there establishes a “private academy” for instructing boys in Latin and Greek. Johnson’s lack of notoriety at this time means that only a handful of boys enroll; among them is David Garrick, one of Britain’s future most celebrated actors and later a key member of Johnson’s circle. The academy lasts only a year and a half: Boswell argues that Johnson’s lack of success in teaching young people by rote was due to the unconventional nature of his own education, and more immediately, the boys fail to respect Johnson and make fun of both him and Tetty.

During this time Johnson begins working on a tragic play called Irene. His friend Mr. Walmsley is impressed with the work in progress and encourages Johnson to try to have it produced on the stage. To this end, Johnson travels to London, leaving Tetty in Lichfield, and settles in the house of a Mr. Norris. Boswell characterizes this period as one of “narrow circumstances” and “cold obscurity.” Johnson lives a frugal lifestyle while trying his best to establish social connections.

One particularly fruitful connection is with Edward Cave, the editor of The Gentleman’s Magazine. Johnson writes to Cave with proposals for literary works to be written. The following year he starts to have poems in Latin and English published and becomes an assistant at the magazine. He also transcribes parliamentary debates. For many years, The Gentleman’s Magazine will be Johnson’s “principal resource for employment and support” (82).

Most notably, Johnson at this time composes his first major poem, a satire entitled London. Written in English in imitation of a satire by the Roman poet Juvenal, it is published anonymously and excites great interest in the English reading public both because of its quality and the mystery of its author.

This section demonstrates one of Boswell’s techniques for performing authenticity and objectivity in his biography of a man he clearly deeply admired. To avoid being accused of hagiography, Boswell offers a balanced assessment of Johnson’s works: On the one hand, he argues that London’s insight into life and human nature belies Johnson’s youth when he wrote it; however, Boswell also criticizes the accuracy of the poem’s political content, pointing out that despite the poet’s sincere feelings, Johnson’s expression of political protest against oppressive government and in favor of patriotism is not grounded in fact.

During this period, Johnson writes to earn a bare living rather than writing what and when he wants. Boswell stresses that any writer’s goal is to write for pleasure rather than to make ends meet, and implies that because Johnson will achieve this as he ascends higher on the literary ladder, he will become a success on several levels. Johnson makes several attempts to break into other professions so as to provide a more secure income. First, he tries to become headmaster of a school, but he is rejected because he lacks a degree. The poet Alexander Pope intervenes on Johnson’s behalf to inquire whether Oxford will grant him an honorary degree, but the college refuses. Johnson then attempts to become a lawyer, but again his lack of a degree proves an obstacle.

Boswell comments that Johnson would have brought passionate persuasion and an uncommon mastery of language to the practice of law. He also, however, expresses satisfaction that these professional ventures did not work out, because they would have prevented Johnson from writing so many “incomparable works.” Thus, Boswell suggests that complete dedication to the craft of writing is necessary to achieve literary greatness. The intervention of Pope, the most celebrated poet in England, on Johnson’s behalf shows Johnson’s growing stature as a writer.

Johnson eventually finishes Irene and takes Tetty with him to London, settling in new lodgings. As the reader will later learn, Johnson’s former pupil Garrick will play a key role in getting the play produced.