"The Life and Death of Mr. Badman" as a 'Compassionate Counsel to all Young Men': John Bunyan and Nonconformist Writings on Youth

• Published in: Bunyan studies Vol. 9; no. 9; p. 50
• Main Author: Dunan, Anne
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Bunyan Studies 01.01.1999; Northumbria University, Department of Humanities, Faculty of Arts, Design and Social Sciences
• Subjects: British & Irish literature; Bunyan, John (1628-1688); Bunyan, John (1628-88); English literature
• ISSN: 0954-0970

[...]the title pages of their various writings sometimes use 'child' and 'youth' indifferently and only a reading of the text allows us to determine whether 'youth' in the sense defined above is meant. [...]I read The Life and Death of Mr. Badman as a work generated from two kinds of language that we meet repeatedly in works of instruction for the young. If thou shalt live to marry, take heed of being served as I was; that is, of being beguiled with fair words, and the flatteries of a lying tongue ... [...]she talked to her children, and gave them counsel, (pp. 143-44) This could have been taken almost verbatim from any aphoristic chapbook or ballad, all being concerned with fear of the Lord, respect due to parents, the choice of a good wife, the dangers of evil companions and specifically targeted to a young readership.29 Second, quite a few pages of Bunyan's dialogue are devoted exclusively to Badman's misbehaviour in his trade. [...]Wiseman says: 'All these injunctions and commandments do respect our life and conversation among men, with reference to our dealing, trading, and so consequently they forbid false, deceitful, yea all doings that are corrupt' (p. 102).