Chapter - 4

"The Roots of Truth" from Unto This Last
- John Ruskin

Question- Write a note on the contribution made to English thought by Ruskin.

Or
Discuss Ruskin's contribution to English Prose.
Or
Write a quality of Ruskin as a social reformer.
Or
What qualities Ruskin has a social reformer?

Answer -

Ruskin was a genius in whom many qualities were combined in one and the same time. He was a great prose writer, equally great art critic, a social reformer, a political economist, a literary critic and an ethical teacher. As. Rickett observes, Few great personalities of the age have been so bewildering as was Ruskin. He has been art critic, social reformer, educationalist, revolutionary, reactionery all in turns and he has seen these things with a poutificial assertiveness that has roused oppositionary, reactionery all in turn and he has seen these things with a pontificial assertiveness that has roused opposition. He has never troubled to explain himself or sought to reconcile in consistencies in his attitude, and has persisted in treating as like spoiled ignorant children who were to be scolded into right thing and good behaviour."

His Contribution to English Prose - Ruskin was a great prose writer of his age. Much of his prose is poetic prose. It also shows his great descriptive power. Oliver Elton praises him in these words: "In prose Ruskin is accurately speaking, the central figure of his time, central because the prose of Carlyle, though greater in itself and of strong on fibre, is well away from the centre, from the type and long tradition, from the English prose of the past, present and the future; while Ruskin's in its prose and classical quality and in the distinctive character of its beauty is the full stream of that tradition.

Ruskin owed much to Dr. Johnson in respect of clear and just statement, orderly sequence and harmonious evolution. But he owed his vocabulary, his sense of rhythm and cadence the solemnity and dignity of his vocabulary entirely to his study of the Bible. Ruskin has himself said, "I have above said that had it not been for constant reading of the Bible, I might have taken Johnson for my model of English". Undoubtly the influence of Bible is the wrap and woof of his style and diction. Biblical phrases come naturally to him. Consider the following passage from his lecture on work.

"The Bible tells you to dress plainly, and you are mad for finery, the Bible tells you to have pity on the poor; and you crush them under your carriage wheels; the Bible tells you to do judgement and justice, and you do not know, not care to know, so much as what the Bible word 'Justice' mens. Do but learn so much when He tells you to be just, and treat you sons, that their bravery is but a fool's boast, and their deeds but a firebrand's tossing unless they are indeed just men and perfect in the Fear of God; - and you will soon have no more war, unless it has indeed such as is willed by Him, and whom though Prince, it is also written, "In Righteousness He doth judge and make war".

Praising Ruskin's prose style W. H. Hudson says. "His style calls for the highest praise; and alike in the rich ornats prose of his early, as in the easy colloquialism of his later writing, he is in the front rank of our greatest masters. A special feature of his style of his power of word-painting".

As a Socio-economic Reformer - The Victorian Era in which John Ruskin lived was one of the most glorious epochs in the history of England. It was an epoch of peace and plenty. England made great progress. The great industries progress had its dark side too. The Industrial Revolution while creating the privileged class of capitalists and mill owners rolling in wealth and riches also brought in its wake the sami starved and ill-clad class of labourers. It was a period of growing meterialism. The agrarian economy of England changed into industrial economy. The natural beauty was defiled. Profit earning was the main motive and aim of capatalists. Human values were degrading. It was under these circumstances Ruskin rose his voice against the growing influence of money and machines. J. A. Hobs points out that Ruskin had "special qualification for social and economic criticism for he was a skilled specialist in the finer qualities of work which men put into the raw material supplied by Nature in order to furnish the necessaries of human consumption".

Ruskin was moved to see that big industries containimated the atmosphere of cities and defiled natural beauty. Ruskin was greatly moved to see the destruction of natural beauty by the smoke emitted from the chimney's of factories. He was grieved to notice green pastures turning into barran land. Ruskin who had started his career as an art critic changed from and an critic to a social reformer. Regarding this change W.H. Hudson points out, "A complete purtifications of the entire social system, an entire change of heart as he put it was necessary before any revival of art was possible in England, and it was by this line or reasoning that he was forced to the conclusion that even as a lover of art his best work could for the moment be done in the field of social service."

Ruskin criticised and contrived to reform the ills of growing industrialisation. The industrial urge of his time led to unhealthy competition and intolerance. The money making tendency made the privileged class exploit the poor workers. Ruskin wanted to abolish the game of money making. He satirised the capitalists who were mad after the material persuits. They contaminated the healthful atmosphere and harmed the interest of the poor people. He expressed his deep concern on the quick industrialisation of England. London had become the centre of business and the beautiful spots had been polluted by the deafening sound of machinery. Ruskin advised the workers not to let the capitalists indulge in short weighing and adultrating the food. He laid emphasis on public service. He advised the leaders of industry and commerce not to run after blindly after profit making and material gains. He told the workers that their first duty is to serve their country with their labour. He advised the traders and industrialists to serve the country by producing and distributing the essential commodities. They should not sacrifice public service for personal gains.

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