Poetry as a criticism of life- Matthew Arnold

 Poetry as a criticism of life

Introduction

The discussion of poetry as a criticism of life should be in detail and based on the famous criticism "Study of Poetry" by Matthew Arnold. Here I am going to discuss that poetry is the criticism of life. Let's see it.

 Poetry as a criticism of life- Matthew Arnold

Poetry has been defined in various ways by different poets and critics. Arnold, a Victorian poet, and critic, defines poetry as he has conceived of it. The relation between the poetry of life is similar to the relation between body and soul. In course of time, poetry has become more integrated with life.

The definition given by Arnold is based on his feeling about life. Let us see how Arnold believes in the relationship between life and poetry. Even the places poetry above philosophy and religion. Because poetry influences life now more than religion which is based on supposed ideas or facts. Now the facts are failing to answer the questions raised in the enlarged surface of life. 

Arnold means by the phrase, criticism of life, the interpretation of life or the application of ideas to life. The poet enjoys and observes life with a devoted mind. He acquires varied experiences in life. He selects among thousands of ideas about life what should make life beautiful and enjoyable. These ideas supply materials to his poetry or are applied to life. He thinks about how to bring out the best of life to create the best of poetry. 

So, poetry is not the utterance of certain moods or portrayal of some phantasy. The mind in the poet compels him to put in black and white the outstanding ideas which constitute his moral and intellectual attitude to life. To some, this interpretation is not free and therefore restricted. But Arnold’s idea of poetry is far from them because he has comprehensively put forth an all-embracing characteristic of true poetry when he lays down the laws of poetic truth and poetic beauty. 

The laws of poetic truth and beauty include the imagination, emotion, and sincerity of the poet. To create the style he insists that there must be at the core of the poem some weighty idea of substantial subject matter. They imply realism in the matter of representation. Criticism is the reaction to the poet’s experience of life. 

By observing life, he forms his selective idea about life and he expresses it in poetry. Ezra Pound holds that the function of criticism is to incite humanity to continue living. Arnold wants to say that the laws of poetic truth and poetic beauty will condition the results of the poet’s experience of life. He says, “The qualities of high poetry can be found in its matter and substance and in its manners and style. 

The criticism of life is never free from morality. But the moral ideas are not didactic in character but dynamic and the fulfillment of the application of ideas to life. Arnold does not believe that life can at all be indifferent to morality. In the words of Arnold, & “poetry of revolt against moral ideas is a poetry of revolt against life”, the poetry of indifference towards moral ideas is a poetry of indifference towards life. So, life and poetry can never be separated from morality. 

Critics do not support Arnold’s views. T.S. Eliot calls it a frigid one, Trilling says that Arnold’s views cannot be accepted as a definition of poetry but it covers the chief function of poetry. J.D. Jump explains that what means is a disinterested attempt to see things as they are. Satirical poems are not taken by him as belonging to the highest class of poetry. In spite of all adverse remarks, we must admit that Arnold has taken a very serious view of poetry, unduly restricting its scope.