The
Man in Black
– Oliver Goldsmith
Oliver
Goldsmith is a novelist, dramatist and poet. His writings are graceful and
charming. They form a delightful commentary on the customs and manners of the
English people. In this essay, The Man in
Black, Goldsmith in the guise of Altangi, a Chinese Philosopher, gives an
interesting account of an English man, the Man in Black. The Man in Black is an
immortal creation of Blacksmith.
The Man in Black had some strange inconsistencies. He was
extremely generous but he pretended to be miserly. He spoke selfishly but acted
selflessly. While many tried to hide their hypocrisy, he tried to hide his
benevolence. But often his mask of cruelty fell off and his nobility was
revealed.
Oneday, Altangi and the Man in Black went for a walk. The
Man in Black talked about the charity provided by the Government. The
Government had made enough provisions to the support the poor people and the
beggars. Even then beggars disturb the people. So the public should not
encourage the beggars by giving alms.
An old beggar appeared before them. He told them that he
had to support his dying wife and five hungry children. His story had no
influence on Altangi. But it moved the heart of the Man in Black. He gave a
silver coin secretly to him. However, he scolded him not to tease passengers
with false stories but to work for food.
The Man in Black thought that Altangi did not notice him
and continued his speech against beggars. He narrated two stories of ladies
robbed by beggars. While he began the third story, a sailor with a wooded leg
desired their pity. On hearing the story, how the sailor lost his leg, the Man
in Black felt sorry for him. He gave a shilling and got the chips he had, which
was only a few pence worth. The sailor gave the entire stock with a blessing.
The Man in Black proudly told Altangi that he had the
chips at a cheap rate. Suddenly he saw a woman in rags. She had one child in
her arms and another on her back. Her misery moved the heart of the Man in
Black. He forgot his pretensions and tried to put his hand into his pocket. But
his pocket was empty as he had given all his money to the earlier beggars. His
agony was greater than the poor woman’s misery. He simply put his shilling’s
worth of matches into her hands and got relief.
Thus,
the Man in Black put up a black exterior but had a white interior.
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