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    The Function of Criticism at The Present Time by Matthew Arnold

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    The document summarizes Matthew Arnold's essay 'The Function of Criticism at the Present Time'. Arnold argues that criticism should be disinterested and not influenced by political or religious biases. A critic's role is to perceive works objectively and promote the spread of true ideas in society. The essay also discusses different types of literature and criticism during Arnold's Victorian era.

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    The Function of Criticism at The Present Time by Matthew Arnold

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    112 views5 pages
    The document summarizes Matthew Arnold's essay 'The Function of Criticism at the Present Time'. Arnold argues that criticism should be disinterested and not influenced by political or religious biases. A critic's role is to perceive works objectively and promote the spread of true ideas in society. The essay also discusses different types of literature and criticism during Arnold's Victorian era.

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    The Function Of Criticism At The Present Time By Matthew Arnold

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    The document summarizes Matthew Arnold's essay 'The Function of Criticism at the Present Time'. Arnold argues that criticism should be disinterested and not influenced by political or religious biases. A critic's role is to perceive works objectively and promote the spread of true ideas in society. The essay also discusses different types of literature and criticism during Arnold's Victorian era.

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    112 views5 pages

    The Function of Criticism at The Present Time by Matthew Arnold

    Uploaded by

    imevil1998
    The document summarizes Matthew Arnold's essay 'The Function of Criticism at the Present Time'. Arnold argues that criticism should be disinterested and not influenced by political or religious biases. A critic's role is to perceive works objectively and promote the spread of true ideas in society. The essay also discusses different types of literature and criticism during Arnold's Victorian era.

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    The Function of Criticism at the


    Present Times by Matthew Arnold
    Summary

    Table of Contents
    1. Introduction
    2. Idea vs. Reality
    3. Use of Disinterestedness
    4. Duty of Criticism
    5. Conclusion

    Introduction
    The essay The Function of Criticism at the Present Time was published by
    Matthew Arnold in his first collection of critical writing ‘Essays in Criticism’
    in 1865. The essay deals with Arnold’s interpretation of criticism and his
    critique of writers who write politically or religiously biased literature thus
    narrowing its scope.

    Idea vs. Reality


    Arnold starts his essay by saying, “Of the literature of France and Germany,
    as of the intellect of Europe in general, the main effort, for now, many years,
    has been a critical effort; the endeavour, in all branches of knowledge,
    theology, philosophy, history, art, science, to see the object as in itself it
    really is.” and adds, “false and malicious criticism had better never been
    made.”
    Here Arnold explains the basic task of any critic. According to him, a critic
    must perceive any object (work) as it is, without thinking about the other
    conditions. Thus for him, the text should be the whole and a critic should
    never take the help of any other text for its explanation.

    In the next line, he condemns the false criticism (which is not original and is
    biased). Arnold believes that the creator of a text is greater than its critic
    because “creative activity is the true function of man”, however, it is the
    critic who draws the true meaning of that particular work of literature.

    According to Arnold, for a production of a great literary work, “the power of


    man” and “the power of moment” i.e. climate of great ideas must concur. If
    anyone of them is absent then a great work of literature will never be
    produced.

    To explain this, Arnold takes the example of two poets- Goethe and Byron.
    Both Goethe and Byron had great productive power yet the work of Goethe
    is more productive than that of Byron because the former had a rich
    cultural background which the latter lacked. Similarly, Shakespeare was not
    a deep reader. His fame and glory were only because his age had a climate
    of great ideas.

    Next, he says that the French Revolution, with its writers like Rousseau and
    Voltaire, was more powerful than the English Revolution of Charles (of
    great ideas of Renaissance).

    However the English Revolution is though practically less successful than


    the French Revolution yet it is better than the letter as it “appeals to an order
    of ideas which are universal, certain permanent”.

    French Revolution quitted the intellectual sphere and rushed into the
    political sphere, thus losing its universal application. French Revolution was
    followed by “Epoch of Concentration” (period of single-mindedness) which
    could not live long and was followed by “Epoch of Expansion” (period of
    creative ideas).
    The works written on the French Revolution (like that of Burke) are though
    great and well appreciated yet they are biased as they combine politics with
    thought.

    Use of Disinterestedness
    Having explained this Arnold moves towards the nature of critic, his
    thinking, and his work. According to him, a critic must maintain a position
    of “disinterestedness,” i.e. keeping aloof from “the practical view of things“
    in order to “know the best that is known and thought in the world, and in its
    turn making this known, to create a current of true and fresh ideas.” Here in
    these lines, he explains the task of a critic in a 3-fold way:

    1. First, a critic must know about life and the world before writing anything
    and see the things as they are.
    2. Second, he should promote his ideas to others and make the best ideas
    prevail in society.
    3. Third, he must create an atmosphere for the creation of the genius of
    the future by promoting these noble. honest and true ideas.

    Arnold criticises the literature produced during the Victorian age. According
    to him, there is a failure of criticism due to the division of society and
    intellectuals into small political and religious groups that makes them
    incapable of seeing things in their true states.

    He cites the example of various works of literature which were written to


    promote the writers’ own political agendas. e.g. the Edinburgh Review
    represents views of the Whigs; the Quarterly Review represents views of
    Tories; the British Quarterly Review represents the views of political
    Dissenters, and the Times represents the views of the “rich Englishman.”

    On the other hand, he also criticises the “constructive” suggestions for


    living presented by Bishop Colenso and Miss Cobbe.

    For him, they have religious influence in their writings which is again
    against the spirit of true criticism. He also tells that the common man lacks
    creativity.

    Duty of Criticism
    Arnold says that criticism must maintain its independence from the
    practical spirit and its aims. It must express dissatisfaction even with well-
    meant efforts of the practical spirit if in the sphere of the ideal they seem
    lacking.

    It must be patient and not hurry on to the goal because of its practical
    importance, know how to wait, and know how to attach itself as well as
    withdraw from things.

    Conclusion
    Arnold talks about a person who regrets the loss of zeal which once existed
    but is no longer present in contemporary society due to the influence of
    politics and religion on ideas.

    Thus he gives voice to commoners views to enhance the glory of the


    past. He advises the critics to adopt disinterested behaviour towards
    criticism. They should take into consideration foreign thought as well.

    Their judgments should be from their own mind without any biases and
    should communicate fresh knowledge to their readers. The criticism is
    capable of making progress in Europe taking it towards perfection.

    In the end, he defends his views on criticism and says that he won’t change
    his opinion for any person who deviates from his theory of criticism

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