The Man of Feeling by Henry Mackenzie

The Man of Feeling was a meaningful novel by Henry Mackenzie and it concentrates on the main character, Harley. This story has more than one emotional events such as hatred and love, disappointment and happiness, peace and anger and lastly, wisdom and loss. A quotation from the novel says that "man is an animal equally selfish and vain"(Mackenzie, p.32). The story is a narrative story because it shows that Harley made an unsuccessful journey to London for asking assistance from a baronet.

The plot of the story shows the personality of the main character who was affected by feelings, and who directly gives reactions and knowledge expressed by people, whom Harley has met in life.

In Chapter 25 of the novel as Harley continues his journey, he comes across a beggar, who fails to differentiate between necessity and honesty. The beggar is introduced by making conversation with "a fresh looking, elderly gentleman" (Mackenzie, p.33). He has expressed his empathy for few of the Bedlam people.

Get quality help now

RhizMan

Verified writer

Proficient in: Emotion

4.9 (247)

“ Rhizman is absolutely amazing at what he does . I highly recommend him if you need an assignment done ”

+84 relevant experts are online

Hire writer

Bedlam is considered an asylum place of the 18th century. In the journey, he came across a hater who took within himself the kindness, politeness, respect and honor.

Harley has felt empathetic towards a suffering women and later experienced problems due to seduction. Surprisingly, one of the highest emotional notes in the novel is when the woman and her old father finally meet after going to find her for a long period of time. It is interesting to note that as the main character has gone through a lot of financial problems in his life.

As discussed by Britton, they both have discussed on the vanity of poets and the manner in which, the youth is drawn away from sensibility.

The grief in the novel was an important point because when Harley was informed about the destruction of the schoolhouse and that his lady love, Miss Walton, is planning to marry some other person. The story was interrupted when a story of a boy and his teacher is introduced. It is shown that they offer assistance to a dying man. As argued by Wetmore, it is found that Harley is bedridden after few years and knows about his imminent death. In a highly remarkable and powerful scene of the novel, Harley has finally expressed his love for "this young lady" who "was no other than Miss Walton", who have responded about her feelings for Harley (Mackenzie, p.78). The final scene is a reflection of a perfect ending in which Harley lies by her side and passes away with a smile.

The final chapters have focused on the burial ceremony of Harley and emphasize on the fact that the world has still didn't lose an honest and mature man. The author has brought together the theme of love and compassion in this novel. The type of love that Harley has shown to the readers was nothing to do with any money effects. The feeling of Harley towards Miss Walton is an outcome of his personal feeling of unworthiness. It is interesting to note that love and tragedy mostly go together and in this novel, love has become timeless.

The plot becomes tragic when the main character, Harley maintains his silence in front of Miss Walton. In the novel, Harley has become a perfect personification of compassion and selflessness. The plot of the story is knitted in a manner where the protagonist is constantly shown to place the interest of others before his and is always wanting to help everyone, no matter what will happen.