Question

Why is conversation called an art by Sir Richard Steele in his essay 'The Art of Conversation'?

Answer 1

The subject of the essay concerns the dynamics of the art of conversation. Which is a sort of game of asking and listening in social intercourse, and not a monologue or soliloquy. The essay begins with an incident involving the son of a landlady named Jack Lizard, a new entrant to college, who is in his teens and has recently visited home to spend his vacations. The author shows him as’ a youth of a great deal fire’ who is restless and very enthusiastic to make a display of his knowledge, therefore ,we see him all the time speaking and teasing others by talking too much. The writer, being a frequent visitor to the lady’s mansion, observed the energies and curiosities of the boy and decided, in sympathy and love for the lad, to give him lesson in the art of conversation. So one day when they were wandering together the author gives the first rule in the art of conversation: “To think with the wise, but talk with the vulgar “(15). This roused the curiosity of the boy, he introspected on his behavior, and desired to mend himself, and therefore, he requested the author to give him other rules in the art of conversation. The author agreed to it and next day supplied to him a list pertaining to successful conversation.

In his essay "The Art of Conversation", Richard Steele says that it is -quite natural for a man who does not take delight in the mirthful meetings of men or the company of women to be happy and take delight in the art of conversation in coffee houses. The first thing to ensure during a conversation is that your hearer is ready and interested in listening to you and you are ready to speak.
Steele has highlighted how the coffee houses are a major place of attraction for all young and old. As the day moves on men with business or good sense in their faces come to the coffee house 'either to transact affairs or enjoy conversation'. The people who matter the most in a conversation are between two extremes-neither too easily pleased nor too enthusiastically negligent of their duties and relations of life. Most of these people are good fathers, generous brothers, sincere friends and faithful subjects. Reasons is their guiding star,not imagination. A topic is sufficient to start a conversation and if topics like politics is touched upon especially in the coffee houses it is simply a moment of fun and merriment. As here each person would contribute his bit either by expressing his views or by agreeing with what the others have to say.
In such a conversation it hardly matters who is in agreement with whom, but there would always be a support to the person playing the role of the speaker and there would be ardent listeners who would agree with whatever the speaker says. The people collect like bees around the speaker and lend their ears and appear to agree and enjoy their time. People gather in coffee houses especially to discuss and share views, some also would like to exchange their affairs. Some of them get so high- spirited that they forget their whereabouts and totally indulge in this gaiety, irrespective of time.
Steele says that conversation is an art and can be perfected only through the right approach and the right attitude. One need not be a good speaker to enjoy the conversation. It is a delight to be a silent listener too at conversations and be an active participant. The author mentions how active the conversation at coffee houses reach when each participant has his bit to contribute, whether he plays the role of the listener or the speaker. To make a conversation interesting each person has a part to play.
Conversation is an art, as the speaker should first and foremost have a good audience and should be able to catch the demand of the audience. It is a good pastime in which people do indulge. It leaves one with warmth and a feel good attitude. It makes one feel important and energetic, like the conversation that goes amongst the senior citizens makes them free of their worries, tensions and stress. It makes them wanted and expressive in their group. People indulge in conversations while on a journey, which makes even the boring and long journey interesting and eventful.
According to the author, there resides an 'Eubulus' in each one of us and one should allow it to come out and it does as soon our backs are tamed. The art of conversation can be attained by either being a good listener or an active participant. "When you fall into a man's conversation, the first thing you consider is whether he has a great inclination to. hear you, or that you should hear him", writes Steele. It involves and invokes each and everyone and leaves us fresh, energetic and rejuvenated. The time or money does not matter here but it is the involvement and the happiness that one derives from the same.