The Feeling of Charles
Lamb Before and After His Retirement
“It is now six and
thirty years since I took my seat at the desk in Mincing-lane.
For the first day or
two I felt stunned, overwhelmed. I could only apprehend my felicity; I was too
confused to taste it sincerely. I wandered about, thinking I was happy, and
knowing that I was not.”
Lamb in “The
Superannuated Man” has given an account of his feeling before and after his
retirement. Lamb served as a clerk for long thirty-six years and then retired.
Lamb’s life as a clerk was tedious and boring. He, however, had a respite from
work on a Sunday every week.
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The drudgery of the office was soul killing
and it told on his health. In the latter part of his professional life constant
anxiety and painful nights troubled him greatly. He was oppressed with a fear
that his mental powers were declining and he was afraid that he made some
serious mistakes in handling the figures in the account books kept by him. His
perpetual worries would be read by everyday on his countenance and indeed his
health was fast breaking down. When lying on bed at night he was mentally working
out the very figures dealt with by him during the day. He was always
apprehensive of some incorrect entry in the accounts. Thus he was depressed by
the lifeless work at the clerk’s desk.
Then Lamb retired from
service. The sudden change from slavery to complete freedom threw his mind
completely out of balance. He felt very uneasy. He did not know how to adjust
himself to this new situation. He compares his condition to that of a prisoner
of Bastille, who has suddenly obtained his freedom after forty years of prison
life. He felt that he had suddenly passed from kingdom of time to the Kingdom
of Eternity. The fact that all time was left to him and he could enjoy it at
his own sweet will produce the impression that he was dwelling in the world of
Eternity. He had so much time at his disposal now that he did not understand
what to do with it. But when the first shock of bewilderment subsided, he took
a sober view of his new blessings and advantage. He regulated his life, so as
to make a rational use of his time. He set apart specific portions of his time
for specific enjoyment.
He could work
aimlessly at his sweet will. He could go to a church; he could visit a sick
friend. He had, as though, infinite time at his disposal. He led the life of a
Retired Leisure.
The
Circumstance in which Lamb got His Release from His Office
Lambs life’s as
a clerk was tedious and boring. In the latter part of his professional life
constant anxiety and painful nights troubled him greatly. He was oppressed with
a fear that his mental powers were declining and he was afraid that he had made
some serious mistakes in handling the figures in the account books kept by him.
His perpetual worries would be read by everybody on his countenance and indeed
his health was fast breaking down. When lying on bed at night he was mentally
working out the very figures dealt with by him during the day. He was always
apprehensive of some incorrect entries in the accounts. Thus he was depressed
by the lifeless work at the clerk’s desk. One day L, the junior partner, put
him to questions regarding his health. Lamb confessed that his power of work
was deteriorating. After this confession he was constantly suspecting that the
authorities would soon terminate his service on grounds of ill-health. A week
later when he was leaving office after finishing his works he received a call
from the authorities. His nervousness can be imagined. He feared that he would
be dismissed from service. When he meets the whole committee of managers, the
eldest partner delivered a brief lecture appreciating the life-long devoted
service of Lamb. The speaker concluded his speech with a proposal that Lamb
should retire with a pension amounting to two – thirds of his salary. Lamb’s
gratitude knew no bounds.
Lamb’s Feelings During
the Fortnight Following His Retirement
The sudden change from slavery to complete freedom threw his mind completely
out of balance. He felt very uneasy. He did not know how to adjust himself to
this new situation. He compares his condition to that of a prisoner of
Bastille, who has suddenly passed from the kingdom of Time to the Kingdom of
Eternity. The fact that all time was left to him and he could enjoy it at his
own sweet will, produced the impression that he was dwelling in the world of
Eternity. He had so much time at his disposal now that he did not understand
what to do with it. But when the first shock of bewilderment subsided, he took
a sober view of his blessings and advantages. He regulated his life, so as to
make a rational use of his time. He set apart specific portions of his time for
specific enjoyment.
Sundays are ‘the very worst adopted’
for Holidays
“It is true I had my
Sundays to myself; but Sundays, admirable as the institution of them is for
purposes of worship, are for that very reason the very worst adapted for days
of unbending and recreation.”
Despite of
tedious and boring job of accounting, Lamb , however, had a respite from work
on a Sunday every week. But according to him Sundays were quite unsuitable for
true relaxation and enjoyment. Sundays being the days of worship and religious
meditation, offered little scope for enjoyment. The atmosphere was shrouded in
gloom and somberness hence it was not congenial to proper recreation. Besides,
Sunday being a day of complete abstention from all works there was no noise and
bustle in any street. There was no hawker crying out the nature of his goods,
there was no sound of music or folk entertainment. The sounds and stirrings to
Lamb were the real charm of London streets. But these were brought to a stand –
still by the paralyzing touch of religious contemplation on Sundays. Moreover,
the shops were closed and the attractive articles of sale were missing. The
book shops which particularly had a special attraction for a book lover like
Lamb remained totally closed. Thus the varied means of enjoyment which London
had to offer were non-existing. The streets looked deserted and forlorn. Now
and then one could find on the streets only apprentices or maid servants who due
to over work throughout the six working days of the week had little energy left
in them to enjoy a holiday. So Sundays were to Lamb practically useless as
holidays.
