FEW POINTS ON JOHN RUSKIN’S SESAME AND LILIES

                                                   

JOHN RUSKIN was born in London, on the 8^th of February 1819. His travel with his father, his familiarity with the Bible, and his close observance of nature were the chief factors in that early education which has to lay the foundation of a life devoted wholly to the cause of truth and beauty, “to help those who have eyes and sees not.”

The book MODERN PAINTERS, brought Ruskin prominently into public notice as a man of letters. His literary career naturally divides itself into main sections. The first extends from 1843 to 1860.  The second extends from 1860 to the time of his death.

SESAME AND LILIES consists of two essays primarily written for delivering as public lectures. The first lecture OF KING”S TREASURIES was delivered at MANCHESTER, in aid of a library fund for the Rusholme Institute. The central theme is books- how and what to read. SESAME is the key to the royal treasure-house of books: the magic grain of education that will unlock the wisdom contained in them.  The second lecture, OF QUEEN’S GARDEN’S was delivered at MANCHESTER in aid of the St. Andrews’s Schools at Ancoats. The main subject is therefore education, the education of women, and so Ruskin discusses ”Why women should read”. It is woman’s function to the queen of her Garden, like the lily, the symbol of beauty and purity.

The two lectures OF KINGS’TREASURIES AND OF QUEENS’GARDENS were published in 1865 under the title, SESAME AND LILIES. With regard to the book Ruskin himself said in 1882: “If read in connection with UNTO THIS LAST it contains the chief truths I have endeavoured through all my past life to display, and which I am chiefly thankful to have learnt and taught.”

Ruskin’s style – in his case pre-eminently the style is the man. Individuality, truthfulness, and life, it has been said, are the characteristics that give immortality to style; and Ruskin has these characteristics to an extraordinary extent.