6 - Entrance to A Tale of A Tub

Summary

Whether a Tincture of Malice in our Natures, makes us fond of furnishing every bright Idea with its Reverse…

How can we begin to make sense of A Tale of A Tub? If all else fails, and it generally does, we might try reading the instructions:

The most accomplisht Way of using Books at present, is twofold: Either first, to serve them as some Men do Lords, learn their Titles exactly, and then brag of their Acquaintance. Or Secondly, which is indeed the choicer, the profounder, and politer Method, to get a thorough Insight into the Index, by which the whole Book is governed and turned, like Fishes by the Tail. For, to enter the Palace of Learning at the great Gate, requires an Expence of Time and Forms; therefore Men of much Haste and little Ceremony, are content to get in by the Back-Door.

(p. 145)

There are problems with this as a key to all mysteries, both in the incongruity of its appearing almost exactly at the volume's centre, and in the clear satirical comment it makes on Modern ignorance and superficiality. The obvious implication is that opening at either end is a highly irresponsible way of ‘using Books’. However, A Tale pre- and dis-figures so many interpretative strategies that no entrance into the text can claim complete innocence, and the ‘Back-Door’ has at least an ironic authority.