Character of a Happy Man Poem Summary Notes and Line by Line Explanation in English Class 10th

Introduction:

‘Character of a Happy Man’ is a short poem written by Sir Henry Wotton. This extract of the poem details on how leading a simple, honest life without the luxuries of the world can still provide happiness and the good graces of God. 

About the Poet:

Sir Henry Wotton (1568-1639) is a seventeenth century author cu-m scholar. In addition to this, he was also a diplomat. Famous works of him include ‘The Character of a Happy Life’, ‘You Meaner Beauties of the Night’, and ‘A Hymn to my God’. 

Theme:

The poem revolves around the theme of simplicity and the subsequent contentment and joy received from leading a life in such a way. Being religious is also a recurring theme that can be found in the course of the poem. 

Structure:

This didactic poem is split into six stanzas. Each stanza consists of four lines, thus making it a quatrain. The rhyme scheme followed is a simple abab, cdcd, and so on and so forth. However, the present text being an extract only five stanzas with the exception of what should have been the fourth stanza. 

Stanza 1:

How happy is he born or taught 
That serveth not another’s will; 
Whose armour is his honest thought, 
And simple truth his utmost skill!

The poem begins with a reference to a ‘he’. The poet’s persona uses ‘he’ to elaborate on the key to a happy life throughout the entirety of the poem. The very first line of the poem states that ‘he’ would be a happy person if he is born and taught not to serve another, thus shunning the idea of slavery. The poem then goes on to state that ‘he’ would also be happy when he is honest and speaks nothing but the truth at all times.

Stanza 2:

Whose passions not his masters are, 
Whose soul is still prepared for death; 
United unto the world with care 
Of public fame or private breath;

The poem continues to go on that ‘he’ would be happy if he doesn’t let his passions overwhelm him. ‘he’ would also be happy should he be removed from the fame and publicity the world has to offer and has a soul that accepts his imminent death. 

Stanza 3:

Who envies none whom chance doth raise 
Nor vice; who never understood. 
How deepest wounds are given with praise; 
Nor rules of state, but rules of good:

Again, the persona states that ‘he’ would be happy if he does not fall prey to jealousy of those who are graced with good fortunes and vile thoughts. ‘he’ is also said to be happy if he realises that praises too can wound a person deeply. The stanza ends with how ‘he’ would be happy if he follows rules of ‘good’, rather than ‘state’, thus giving predominance to morality and ethical values. 

Stanza 4:

Who God doth late and early pray 
More of His grace than gifts to lend; 
Who entertains the harmless day 
With a religious book or friend;

The list continues. ‘he’ would be happy in life were he religious and has strong faith in God. Again, his faith should be in such a way the he seeks God’s grace rather than the gifts he could provide. The stanza ends with a note on how ‘he’ would be a happy man if he spends a day with a religious book or his friend.

Stanza 5:

This man is free from servile band 
Of hope to rise, or fear to fall; 
Lord of himself, though not of lands; 
And having nothing, yet hath all.

The final stanza wraps up everything the persona has laid out for a man to lead a happy life neatly. The persona proclaims that such a man who lives in the way this poem has taught would be free from servitude. He would be unruffled by human trivialities as he would be one who neither hopes exceedingly nor has anything to fear. He would, simply put, be ‘Lord of himself’ but ‘not of lands’ meaning to say that despite not being rich, he would be the master of himself, not anyone else. The poem concludes with how he, whom would have nothing, is truly the one who has everything in life. 

Conclusion:

The poem lays out on how a man should live to lead a happy life. It states how joy is found only in simple things in life and how happiness cannot indeed be bought but rather, experienced.