Essay on Burns

"Essay on Burns" by Thomas Carlyle is a biographical essay that deeply admires the Scottish poet Robert Burns, exploring his life and character. The essay, while presented as a review, becomes an independent study of Burns, showing him as a complex person formed by his environment. Carlyle begins by discussing the importance of Burns's poetry and life, noting the difficulty of truly capturing his essence. He criticizes earlier biographers for not recognizing Burns's greatness and treating him condescendingly. Carlyle underscores the challenge of understanding Burns's nature, considering the hardships he faced in society, and his writing demonstrates a personal connection to Burns's hardships and talents, clearing the way for a thorough examination of the poet's genius that thrived despite great obstacles.