The Legacy of English Literary Critic and Essayist William Hazlitt

William Hazlitt was a controversial figure in his time, and his critical views often put him at odds with other writers and intellectuals of the day. William Hazlitt in the essay "On the Pleasure of Hating" explores the human tendency towards hatred and argues that while it may seem like a negative emotion, it can also be a source of pleasure and even a necessary part of human experience.

William Hazlitt (1778-1830) was an English writer, essayist, and literary critic. He was one of the most influential critics and essayists of the early 19th century, and his work continues to be studied and celebrated today. Hazlitt was known for his passionate, opinionated writing style and his wide-ranging interests, which included literature, politics, and philosophy.

Some of Hazlitt's most famous works include his collections of essays, such as "Table-Talk," "The Spirit of the Age," and "The Plain Speaker," as well as his biographical and critical studies of writers such as Shakespeare, Milton, and Coleridge. Hazlitt was also a skilled journalist and wrote for several newspapers and magazines, including the Morning Chronicle, The Examiner, and The Edinburgh Review. William Hazlitt wrote many essays throughout his career, but one of his most famous and enduring essays is "On the Pleasure of Hating". Here he draws on a range of examples from history, literature, and his own life to illustrate his points, and his writing style is passionate and thought-provoking. "On the Pleasure of Hating" has been widely studied and analyzed by literary scholars and remains a classic example of Hazlitt's style and approach to criticism. It continues to be read and admired today for its insights into human nature and its exploration of the darker aspects of human emotion. Hazlitt was also an important cultural commentator of his time, and his writings on politics, society, and culture reflected his deep interest in the ideas and issues of his day. He was an advocate for political and social reform, and his work often challenged conventional wisdom and traditional values.

William Hazlitt's impact on English literature and criticism has been significant, and his ideas and style continue to influence writers and critics today. Some of the ways in which Hazlitt's legacy can be seen in the work of later writers and critics are:

• George Orwell, the famous author of "Animal Farm" and "1984," was a great admirer of Hazlitt and cited him as one of his major influences. Orwell praised Hazlitt's style and approach to criticism, and his own writing often reflects Hazlitt's emphasis on individual perspective, clear and direct prose, and a commitment to truth and honesty.
• T.S. Eliot, the Nobel Prize-winning poet and critic, was another writer who acknowledged his debt to Hazlitt. Eliot admired Hazlitt's wide-ranging interests and his ability to bring together diverse ideas and perspectives, and he drew on Hazlitt's approach to criticism in his own work.
• F.R. Leavis, the influential critic and founder of the "Leavisite" school of criticism, was also heavily influenced by Hazlitt's ideas and style. Leavis admired Hazlitt's commitment to close reading and his focus on the individual reader's response to literature, and he built on Hazlitt's legacy in his own work.

In conclusion, Hazlitt's legacy as a literary critic and essayist continues to be celebrated, and his work remains an important part of the English literary canon. His ideas about the importance of individual perspective, emotional engagement with literature, and the need for honesty and authenticity in criticism continue to resonate with readers and critics today.