Age of Johnson
In Samuel Johnson’s analysis of Soame Jenyns’ explanation of human suffering, Johnson delivers many blows to the heart of the argument. ... ” Epilepsy is a horrible condition, and Johnson uses bitter humor to dehumanize the views of Jenyns even if he tried to touch the subjects of uncertain answers. Johnson beats the horse until it is dead. ... Johnson is explaining this in a light-hearted fashion to show just how nonchalantly he is treating Jenyns. Johnson not only attacks the ideas of Jenyns, but he also attacks his integrity as an author. Johnson verbally abuses Jenyns repetitively. ... It is safe to assume that Johnson considered himself superior to many of the writers of the time.