ABSTRACT
The Philosophic Group of oriental tales is in number far smaller and in literary value far more considerable than the Moralistic. The other philosophic oriental tales in the Addisonian periodicals illustrate various themes: the transitoriness of life, the subjectivity of time, and personal identity. Frequent phrases suggest that in oriental thought and imagery what appealed most forcibly to Joseph Addison’s reverent nature was “likeness to those beautiful metaphors in scripture.” In the philosophic as in the moralistic tales the most famous of Addison’s successors was Dr. Johnson. The imitators of Johnson apparently found it easier to write moralistic than philosophic tales. At least this is true of the editor of the Adventurer, who was so voluminous a moralist. Of the philosophic oriental tales composed in English, Rasselas, the most important, remains to be discussed. Addison’s lighter touch and buoyant spirit are replaced in the Rambler and the Idler by Johnson’s heavier style and more uniformly serious purpose.
