Imagine being born during a time when people weren’t aware of different illnesses and health conditions as they are today. Imagine not having anywhere to go for an analysis of what’s even wrong.
Samuel Johnson (no, not Jackson) was born in 1709. His mother birthed him at the age of 40 and worries were consuming the minds of all aware of the birth taking place. Giving birth at that age was risky, especially in the 18th century. Samuel’s father owned a bookstore (DREAM job!) and the birth took place in the home above the store. When Samuel was born, the room was hushed. No crying or tears were wept from the newborn. Was he okay? His aunt peered over at him and yelped out, “She would not have picked such a poor creature up in the street”. I think I may have punched this woman, especially after giving labor. Geez! Leave me and my quiet baby be auntie. His health was not well and no one expected he would survive. (I bet the “evil auntie” was relieved). Alas, little Samuel pulled through. Yay! Not only did he pull through, he became one of the most distinguished men of letters in English history. Well then, I’m already impressed.
As Sam grew up, it became apparent he was extremely gifted. At the age of 3 he was able to quickly memorize passages and his parents would have him recite these to friends and family (apparently this was a cause for resentment later in life. I get it, Sam!). By age 9 he was excelling at all subjects and was moved up in school due to his amble knowledge and ability to rapidly retain information. His father had quite a number of unpaid debts at this point, and school (as we know) is expensive. Samuel spent time in various schools to obtain widespread academics. Upon his start at Stourbridge, he was given the vamoose shortly after (only 6 months) due to lack of funds. He went home and helped his father in the bookstore, stitching books and reading oodles of interesting topics. Are you as jealous as me? Thankfully, his mother’s cousin died and they were left money (maybe writing “thankfully” isn’t appropriate here… but yet, it is), and used for his college expenses.
Away Samuel went to Pembroke College, Oxford at the age of 19 (in 1728)!The money wasn’t enough to cover the full amount needed, but a good friend Andrew Corbet was able to lend him some. He made many friends at school despite various criticisms, (more on that later). He was asked to leave after 13 months due to lack of funds (again). It seems quite apparent that all the teachers and principals knew of his natural gifts. He did eventually receive a degree, (an honorary doctorate) that was provided in 1765.
Samuel was a very tall and bulky child, which continued to follow his description into adulthood. He had tics, gesticulations and was known to make odd facial expressions that would occur at random. Samuel had what we now know as Tourette syndrome. Unaware of this condition’s existence at the time, he was often teased and was told he was making people uncomfortable. Despite this, he grew close with many of his classmates and even teachers. Samuel struggled with getting hired for teaching positions because of his appearance and uncontrollable tics. Before he was given the honorary degree, he struggled finding work. In some instances, not having the degree deterred him from being hired as a teacher and in other situations they would hire him, only to ask him to leave due to his “off-putting” gesticulations. He can’t help it guys!
His father passed away in 1731 due to an inflammatory fever, which meant the family needed to make money. The pressure was on! After tirelessly searching, he eventually received a position as undermaster at a school in Market Bosworth. He was treated pretty poorly, but still enjoyed the opportunity to teach. Samuel didn’t stay there long though, after he got into an argument with the headmaster and returned home. Samuel (also known as Dr. Johnson, not his preferred nickname) worked on translating books for fellow writers and helped compose famous journals of his friends.
One of his old friends passed away due to a terminal illness, leaving his wife (Tetty) a lonely widow, with 3 children. Samuel wasn’t very experienced with romantic relationships, but with Tetty’s insistent reassurance and promise of financial investments, he began courting her and they eventually married. Her family didn’t support the pair, primarily due to the age difference (Tetty, 46 and Samuel 25). One of her sons was so disgusted, he cut off all communication with her. The other children were distraught initially, but eventually lost the attitude and became supportive.
Samuel was a tutor and applied to become a headmaster of a school. He was turned down, yet again because of his odd “face distortions and ill-natured way”. This led to Samuel opening his own school… now that he had the big bucks from his wife, Tetty. Alas, he only had three students and after a brief period they decided to close the school. They lost all of the money invested and Samuel conceded to a life of one heard, not seen – a writer.
Samuel was asked to write a dictionary of the English language in 1746 by a group of publishers. He signed the contract and promised to complete this task within three years. I’m dazed just imagining this! Think of all the books strewn about and notes written down! Obviously, Samuel had earned a reputation and was propositioned to complete this project for good reason. He hired assistants to handle some of the copying and their home became a windstorm of borrowed books and papers! He was laser focused on achieving this task and in the interim, neglected his wife and personal life. Tetty began to get sick, even showing physical signs of a terminal illness. But Samuel, well…he was oblivious to it. He was fixated and motivated to complete the dictionary.
Alas, three years didn’t quite cut it. After 8 years, he completed this hefty project! The dictionary was finally published (after much review) in 1755. Back up three years (to 1752) before the publication of the Dictionary…Tetty had left London to return to her home in the countryside to let Samuel focus on his assignment, which is where she passed (without Samuel). Once Samuel was notified of her death, he was mortified and soaked with remorse. He wrote a sermon to be read in her honor at the funeral but refused to read it. Despite the big achievement of completing this project, the heartbreaking anguish overshadowed the win and induced considerable shame. His friend said he had never witnessed a man in such grief!
Samuel, doing what he did best, continued writing. He published poetry, biographies, edited plays of William Shakespeare (and adding notes to various passages) and contributed weekly publications in a news journal. In 1765 The Plays of William Shakespeare were published and quickly sold out. This shined some vivid light onto his talent and people were taking notice. Soon enough, he was asked to visit the Queens house by the librarian of King George III. Will he go? Would you? That’s pretty intimidating to say the least! When The King heard that Samuel would be visiting the library, he demanded that he be introduced. Samuel ventured to the King’s home and after a short meeting, Samuel left feeling impressed with the King and better yet, their conversation. I ponder over this exchange and can’t help but wonder how nervous Samuel must have been. For years he had been teased and rejected by people, accused of being “odd” and making people uncomfortable. How brave of him to just go for it! Sure! Let’s meet the King and Queen! Why the heck not, right?
Samuel began to have severe health issues in 1783. Oddly though, the symptoms would lessen and then return with a mighty force. He suffered a stroke and lost his ability to speak. The next year his health seemed to get better, but sadly during that same year of 1784, Samuel spoke his final words, “Iam Moriturus” (translated from Latin, “I who am about to die”). He fell into a coma and passed that evening.
The list of publications Samuel crafted or took part in are tremendous, and worthy of looking up. His friend Boswell (who later wrote his biography) spoke of him in his last few years as “an old man discoursing in a tavern to a circle of admirers.” I can’t help but think of living during this period, with an unknown ailment, that caused me to uncontrollably hold my head to one side, move my body backwards and forwards, rubbing my knee in the same direction with the palm of my hand, all while making a thoughtful look or a small smile. This is how Boswell described Samuel’s outward movements and general body position. Yet, look at what victories Samuel had and judgement he snubbed!
Those closest to him noted after his passing, “Samuel displayed many of the obsessional-compulsive traits and rituals which are associated with this syndrome … It may be thought that without this illness his remarkable literary achievements, the great dictionary, his philosophical deliberations and his conversations may never have happened; and Boswell, the author of the greatest of biographies would have been unknown.”
When I read of some of the obstacles he faced, I felt this compelling urge to learn a bit more about him, though I know I’m merely skimming the surface of the many layers that encompass Samuel Johnson. He didn’t only contribute as a poet, playwright, essayist, moralist, critic, biographer and editor…he made people curious and placed wonder into people’s minds. He lived each day knowing he wasn’t like everyone else but didn’t understand why. I can’t help but wonder if he laid his head to rest each night of his life, wondering why he wasn’t “normal”. Or if he had the realization that “normal” is no longer. “Normal”, is in the heart of each person and the life they live, as they choose to live it.
References:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samuel_Johnson