The Common Reader

"There is a sentence in Dr. Johnson's Life of Gray which might well be written up in allthose rooms, too humble to be called libraries, yet full of books, where the pursuit ofreading is carried on by private people. ". . . I rejoice to concur with the common reader;for by the common sense of readers, uncorrupted by literary prejudices, after all therefinements of subtilty and the dogmatism of learning, must be finally decided all claimto poetical honours." It defines their qualities; it dignifies their aims; it bestows upon apursuit which devours a great deal of time, and is yet apt to leave behind it nothing verysubstantial, the sanction of the great man's approval.
The common reader, as Dr. Johnson implies, differs from the critic and the scholar. He isworse educated, and nature has not gifted him so generously. He reads for his ownpleasure rather than to impart knowledge or correct the opinions of others. Above all, heis guided by an instinct to create for himself, out of whatever odds and ends he can comeby, some kind of whole-a portrait of a man, a sketch of an age, a theory of the art ofwriting. He never ceases, as he reads, to run up some rickety and ramshackle fabricwhich shall give him the temporary satisfaction of looking sufficiently like the real objectto allow of affection, laughter, and argument. Hasty, inaccurate, and superficial,snatching now this poem, now that scrap of old furniture without caring where he finds itor of what nature it may be so long as it serves his purpose and rounds his structure, hisdeficiencies as a critic are too obvious to be pointed out; but if he has, as Dr. Johnsonmaintained, some say in the final distribution of poetical honours, then, perhaps, it maybe worth while to write down a few of the ideas and opinions which, insignificant inthemselves, yet contribute to so mighty a result."