“Virtue Is Its Own Reward”
Maybe the iconic piece in the collection; that which delineates exactly the tenor and tone of the overwhelming bulk of the other pieces collected here. The author takes a proverbial bit of wisdom commonly accepted as being ground in truth and proceeds to deconstruct its veracity. Ultimately, the essay offers overwhelmingly strong evidence that actions which are thought to be rewarded only with a satisfying sense of virtue on behalf its participant almost always arrive with much more tangible awards and, furthermore, generally produce an expectation of a more tangible reward.
“Whatever Is Worth Doing Is Worth Doing Well”
This proverbial wisdom takes a hit as well with the author identifying it as being “directly responsible for more waste of time” than any other philosophy. The deconstruction of this truth to reveal its falsity differs from that of virtue, however, as the author identifies the problematic nature as being one of definition. Doing something “well” has been taken to be synonymous with “thoroughly” when it should really be interpreted as “fitly.”
“Children’s Literature”
An education proposal that undercuts the standard convention that giving children books to read which mirror their own lives creates a sense of narcissism which obstruct empathy and understanding. The author suggests that instead children being raised on literature which exposes them expressly to lifestyles and experiences at odds with their own.
“Conceit”
In a revelation of just how deep the author’s subversive nature penetrates, not only does she view virtuous acts with a slightly cocked eye, but she arrives to support the advantages of conceit. While admitting that conceit can send one day a dangerous path of constantly evolving mistakes, she relegates this negative aspect to the realm of the simpleton. In the hands of the intellectually curious and ambitious, however, conceit can become a positive personality trait essential to breaking through to higher avenues of thought and accomplishment.
“Infallibility”
Perhaps not what it seems, this is really an essay of advice on how to create a happy and balanced marriage. The irony runs deep and slices through the lofty self-esteem of those who view themselves as the model of perfection; it is this way that imbalance occurs. The essay ends with Jack Sprat and his wife being utilized as models of perfect harmony within a relationship because each has learned to appreciate and sympathize the fallibility of the other.
“The Vice of Talking Shop”
A terrifically concise example of the way the author engages irony to subvert convention and produce a way of looking at commonly accepted traditions with a skewed perspective. The essay begins by flatly stating the widely accepted contention: “It is very wrong to talk shop.” The reasons are then outlined: discourse between those who know makes those who don’t know uncomfortable. The natural conclusion for a person with Webster’s deep sense of contrary irony is simple: it is preferable to discuss what you don’t know about rather than what you do know about in public in order to avoid causing discomfort.
“Champagne”
A perfect example of the mode of writing which characterized the bulk of the essays. Webster starts off with a literal examination the qualities of champagne and then over the course of the essay expands those qualities into the metaphorical sphere which is then applied to literature featuring the same light, bubbly, non-serious and lightly entertaining aspects of the beverage.
“Word Memory”
Another subversive illumination of the darkness surrounding conventional wisdom. This essay questions the value of a fundamental component of education: rote memory. In today’s parlance, it would be described as a call for the teaching of critical thinking skills rather than relying on mere memorization of facts and figures.
“Home Gossip”
The essay admits that everyone considers neighborly gossip a bad thing, but goes about conducting it anyway. The author asserts that gossip among family members within the home is far more potentially damaging, yet goes about unabated precisely because it does not carry the same sense of malevolence. Ultimately, she terms this internal treachery the “fatal enemy to family confidence.”
“Old Acquaintances”
Unusually, this essay eschew irony and gets right to the point with sincerity. At the same time, that very sincerity in its honesty and forthright tone makes it an excellent example of the author’s inherently subversive nature. Referencing the familiar (if somewhat perplexing) lyrics of the song never heard but once a year, the opening line disregards ambiguity in undermining convention and tradition. To the question of whether old acquaintances should be forgot: “Decidedly, in nine cases out of ten.”
