Miscellaneous Essays

"Miscellaneous Essays" by Thomas De Quincey is a set of thoughtful writings from the early 1800s, where the author uniquely mixes the study of books with deep thinking about life. Covering subjects like books, art, right and wrong, and even what it means to kill someone, De Quincey encourages people to question long-held beliefs about what is beautiful or good, using stories and people from the past. The book starts with De Quincey puzzling over a "knocking" scene in Shakespeare's Macbeth, right after a murder, showing how strongly it affected him as a child in a way that went beyond simple understanding. He values feeling over cold facts, pointing out how art can stir powerful emotions that logic can't explain. By linking Shakespeare's depiction of killing with the feeling of stress it creates, he prepares readers for later talks about seeing murder in stories as a form of art. The collection switches between serious study and personal thoughts, pulling readers into both the emotional and thinking parts of the topics discussed.