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What themes does Samuel Johnson explore in The Vanity of Human Wishes?
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Samuel Johnson
Samuel Johnson, oil on canvas by Sir Joshua Reynolds, c. 1756; in the National Portrait Gallery, London.
In The Vanity of Human Wishes (1749), Samuel Johnson explores the futility inherent in the human pursuit of greatness and happiness. Drawing inspiration from Juvenal, the poem serves as a tragic meditation on human unfulfillment, emphasizing moral reflections over social or political commentary.12
Key themes and elements include:
- The Nature of Vanity: Johnson examines the "emptiness" and "uncertainty" of human endeavors, illustrating how desires often lead to "fruitless" outcomes, "idle show," or "unsubstantial enjoyment".1
- Universal Disappointment: By juxtaposing historical figures—such as Thomas Cardinal Wolsey, Charles XII, and Xerxes I—with common human types like the scholar or the wealthy, Johnson demonstrates that all people are equally subject to the disappointment of their ambitions.1
- Moral and Spiritual Resolution: The poem is deeply influenced by the Old Testament message of Ecclesiastes that "all is vanity." It replaces the Stoic virtues found in Juvenal’s work with the Christian virtue of "patience," ultimately concluding with a prayer of hope.21