Summary of "Going Out for a Walk"
Max Beerbohm's essay is a humorous critique of the popular activity of walking for exercise. The author confesses that he has never voluntarily gone out for a walk in his entire life. He argues that people who enjoy walking believe it is a noble activity and feel entitled to force others to join them.
Beerbohm finds it difficult to refuse such invitations from acquaintances, and his usual excuse of having letters to write rarely works, especially on Sunday mornings. His main objection to walking is that it "stops the brain." He observes that intelligent, interesting companions become dull and can only read road signs and make basic observations when they go walking. According to him, this happens because walking is driven by the soul, not reason, and the brain goes to sleep during the activity.
The author makes a distinction between walking with a purpose (going somewhere specific) and walking for walking's sake. He doesn't mind moderate exercise when it serves a purpose, but he firmly refuses to go out for walks simply for the sake of walking. The essay itself was composed during a purposeful walk, proving that the brain can function when walking has a destination.
"Going Out for a Walk" എന്ന ലേഖനത്തിന്റെ സംഗ്രഹം
മാക്സ് ബിയർബോമിന്റെ ഈ ലേഖനം വ്യായാമത്തിനായി നടക്കുന്ന പതിവിനെ നർമ്മപൂർവ്വം വിമർശിക്കുന്നു. ജീവിതത്തിൽ ഒരിക്കൽ പോലും താൻ സ്വമേധയാ നടക്കാൻ പോയിട്ടില്ലെന്ന് എഴുത്തുകാരൻ സമ്മതിക്കുന്നു. നടത്തം ഇഷ്ടപ്പെടുന്നവർ അത് ഉന്നതമായ ഒരു പ്രവർത്തനമാണെന്ന് വിശ്വസിക്കുകയും മറ്റുള്ളവരെയും നിർബന്ധിച്ച് കൂട്ടുപിടിക്കാൻ ശ്രമിക്കുകയും ചെയ്യുന്നുവെന്ന് അദ്ദേഹം വാദിക്കുന്നു.
അത്തരം ക്ഷണങ്ങൾ നിരസിക്കാൻ പ്രയാസമാണ്, കത്തുകൾ എഴുതണമെന്ന അദ്ദേഹത്തിന്റെ പതിവ് ന്യായം, പ്രത്യേകിച്ച് ഞായറാഴ്ച രാവിലെ, വിജയിക്കാറില്ല. നടത്തത്തോടുള്ള അദ്ദേഹത്തിന്റെ പ്രധാന എതിർപ്പ് അത് "മസ്തിഷ്കത്തെ നിർത്തലാക്കുന്നു" എന്നതാണ്. ബുദ്ധിപരവും രസകരവുമായ കൂട്ടുകാർ നടക്കാൻ പോകുമ്പോൾ മുഷിഞ്ഞുപോകുകയും റോഡ് അടയാളങ്ങൾ വായിക്കാനും അടിസ്ഥാന നിരീക്ഷണങ്ങൾ നടത്താനും മാത്രമേ കഴിയൂ എന്ന് അദ്ദേഹം നിരീക്ഷിക്കുന്നു. യുക്തിയല്ല, ആത്മാവാണ് നടത്തത്തെ നയിക്കുന്നതെന്നും അതിനാൽ മസ്തിഷ്കം ഉറങ്ങിപ്പോകുന്നുവെന്നും അദ്ദേഹം വിശദീകരിക്കുന്നു.
ഉദ്ദേശ്യമുള്ള നടത്തത്തിനും (എവിടെയെങ്കിലും പോകുന്നത്) നടത്തത്തിനു വേണ്ടിയുള്ള നടത്തത്തിനും ഇടയിൽ അദ്ദേഹം വ്യത്യാസം കാണിക്കുന്നു. ഒരു ലക്ഷ്യമുള്ളപ്പോൾ മിതമായ വ്യായാമം അദ്ദേഹം സ്വീകരിക്കുന്നു, എന്നാൽ വെറും നടത്തത്തിനു വേണ്ടി പുറത്തേക്ക് പോകാൻ അദ്ദേഹം ദൃഢമായി വിസമ്മതിക്കുന്നു.
About the Author
Max Beerbohm (1872-1956) was an English essayist, humorist, and caricaturist. He was known for his wit and satirical writing style. He contributed to various periodicals and became famous for his humorous essays and parodies. Beerbohm succeeded George Bernard Shaw as drama critic for the Saturday Review. He was knighted in 1939 for his contributions to literature. His writing is characterized by elegant prose, gentle mockery, and keen observation of human behavior. He spent much of his later life in Italy, where he continued to write and draw caricatures of prominent figures.
Questions and Answers
What does the author consider as the drawbacks of London?
According to Beerbohm, London's drawbacks include its endless noise and hustle, its smoky air, and the squalor that is hidden everywhere in the city. However, he ironically views these negatives as positive because they ensure that nobody ever wants him to come out for a walk.
What is the author's excuse to avoid walking?
The author's standard excuse is "I wish I could, but I have some letters to write." This is the only excuse that comes to his mind when someone invites him for a walk.
Why is the author's excuse ineffective?
The excuse is ineffective for three reasons. First, people don't believe it. Second, it forces him to actually go to the writing table and pretend to write a letter until the person leaves. Third, it doesn't work on Sunday mornings because there is no post till evening, so the person can easily counter this excuse.
What makes the author say that walking for walking's sake stops one's brain?
The author observes that companions who are intelligent and entertaining while sitting indoors become mentally dull during walks. They can only make basic comments like saying someone is a good fellow or reading road signs and notices aloud. Their encyclopedic knowledge, interesting ideas, and lively conversation all disappear during the walk, proving that their brain has stopped working.
What, according to the author, is the thought process taking place in the brain during a walk?
According to Beerbohm, the soul commands the body to go for a walk without any reason or destination. When the brain questions this purpose, the soul argues that walking demonstrates nobility and good character. The brain refuses to participate in this "tomfoolery" and wraps itself in its own convolutions, falling into a deep sleep until the body returns home. Therefore, no real thinking happens during a walk for walking's sake.
What is the author's opinion of having a vehicle for every destination?
The author is not extreme about avoiding exercise. He states that the brain would prefer if you took a vehicle when going somewhere specific, but it doesn't insist on it. He is willing to walk when there is a definite purpose and destination. He takes exercise as it comes and believes that in moderation, it is rather good for one physically.
What holds the author back from going out for a walk?
The author's main objection is that walking for its own sake stops the brain from functioning. He refuses to waste his mental energy on an activity driven by the soul's sense of nobility rather than reason. He will only walk when there is a specific purpose or destination, not simply for the sake of the activity itself.