Thomas Carlyle Research Paper

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Pages: 9

Thomas Carlyle wrote of his father “He was among the last of the true men, which Scotland produced, or can produce.” His father, James Carlyle, dominated Carlyle’s childhood home where the absolutes of religion, conduct and work prevailed (Merriman 1). Growing up in this type of environment gave Carlyle difficulty reaching his success. Thomas Carlyle, Scottish born biographer, historian, was the most important philosophical moralist of the early Victorian age, writing such works as The French Revolution, had to earn his success in spite of all the obstacles he encountered in his life. Thomas Carlyle was born on December 4, 1795 in Ecclefechan, Dumfriesshire, Scotland. The family home was built and designed by his hardworking father, James Carlyle. He instilled the Gospel of Work in his children. With this said, he wanted his eldest to become a minister, but surprisingly was very patient while he tried finding his vocation in school. Carlyle’s loving mother, Margaret nee Aitken, taught him to read and was a true Christian believer as well (Merriman 1). While in grammar school, he …show more content…
The couple went wild by slight noises and were constantly annoyed by each others presence. Yet their affection united them, and their anger was forgotten by humor (Cooley 671). By 1831, Carlyle had matured as a writer. He made something for his name by introducing into England the German romantics. Now ready for the hard work on his own, he wrote his spiritual autobiography Sartor Resartus and began work on a history of the French Revolution (Cooley 671). In 1832, news came from Scotland that Carlyle’s father John Carlyle died. The sad son and his wife moved back to Craigenputtock. The couple were back in a hard country life full of silence. Carlyle often just read and did anything else alone, Jane was suffering physically, Carlyle was suffering mentally, he had so much to write (Merriman