An Easy Life

Mr Easy believes he has missed out on fatherhood, and having nothing else to do, turns to political campaigning.

1836

Introduction

Mr Nicodemus Easy is a Hampshire gentleman destined to be the father of the hero of Captain Marryat’s novel. As the tale opens, however, Mr Easy has resigned himself to being childless, and has determined to make the best of it.

by Frederick Marryat 1792-1848

abridged

MR Nicodemus Easy was a gentleman who lived down in Hampshire; he was a married man, and in very easy circumstances. Most couples find it very easy to have a family, but not always quite so easy to maintain them. Mr Easy was not at all uneasy on the latter score, as he had no children; but he was anxious to have them, as most people covet what they cannot obtain.

After ten years, Mr Easy gave it up as a bad job. Philosophy is said to console a man under disappointment, although Shakespeare asserts that it is no remedy for toothache; so Mr Easy turned philosopher, the very best profession a man can take up, when he is fit for nothing else; he must be a very incapable person indeed who cannot talk nonsense.

❰

1 2

❱

Précis

We are introduced to a gentleman of leisure, Nicodemus Easy, who lived in Hampshire with his wife in very comfortable circumstances. In one way, however, Mr Easy’s circumstances were not as ‘easy’ as his name deserves: he would have liked children, but as the story opens he has assumed this can never be, and fills his time with intellectual pursuits.

Sevens

Suggest answers to this question. See if you can limit one answer to exactly seven words.

Why was Mr Nicodemus Easy well-named?

Suggestion

Because he lived a very comfortable life.

Jigsaws

Express the ideas below in a single sentence, using different words as much as possible. Do not be satisfied with the first answer you think of; think of several, and choose the best.

Nicodemus Easy had no children. He wished he had.

Clay Lane The Copybook