John Ruskin as a reformer

Abstract

Introduction: John Ruskin, one of the greatest men, sitting forth the highest ideas of our century, was born in the city of London, Feb.8,1819. Though born in a large city, he was not city bred. His parents were Scotch people. His Father was an upright and successful wine merchant, with an intense love of pictures and a decidedly religious bias. His mother a very pious, though severe woman, dedicated her son, before his birth, to the Christian ministry, and always regarding him as a sacred trust, she made his training her life mission. Every detail of his education and early influnce was the result of deliberate plans. His mother’s over carefulness of him, seems to have taken away his childhood. She allowed him no toys, because she thought the best teacher a boy could have was personal experience-leaving him to find his own amusement and compelling him to think out things for himself. Until he was fourteen years old, she was his only educational guide-watching him constantly, punishing him severly if he cried, disobeyed, or fell, and though her affection for him was great, she never game him any outward expression of maternal love. On Sunday she restricted him to reading of the “Bible,” “Robinson Cruso” and “Pilgrims Progres” The other days, he read from choice Scott, Homer and Byron. After his fourteenth year, tutors of the very best were engaged for his training and at the age of eighteen, he went to Oxford and entered Christ church as a gentleman commoner. While there, he paid diligent heed to his studies. Though the son of a wine-merchant, he was a born poet. Before entering his teens, he was writing descriptions in prose and verse of every scene, also illustrating them. His first book, “The Story of Miss Edgenworth” was produced in his seventh year. At Oxford, in 1839, he carried off the Newdigate prize for English poetry.