Matthew Arnold: The Function of Criticism at the Present Tim

Arnold begins his argument by stating that, “The critical power is of lower rank than the creative” (2104), this is because man finds his true happiness within the creative process. However, this creative process cannot be limited to great works of literature, or most people would be denied their true happiness. Arnold says that well-doing, learning, or even criticizing can be creative projects and that they can be just as fulfilling as a great work of literature. He then says that t

In support of this idea Arnold compares the success of Lord Byron and JW Goethe, saying that “both Byron and Goethe had a great productive power, but Goethe’s was nourished by a great critical effort providing the true materials for it and Byron’s was not” (2105). This is to say that the poet should understand the world about which he is writing, and it takes a very critical analysis to do this. Arnold feels that Byron lacked this ability and that is why his legacy did not last. Arnold goes on to discuss the flurry of literature from 1800-1825, referring to it as somewhat premature because it did not have a proper storage of fresh ideas. Though these poets had an immense creative force, they had nothing to aim this force at, which could be why there is so much natural poetry during this time.

Criticism may be necessary because the creative power works with certain materials, and for the author these materials are ideas; “the best ideas on every matter which literature touches, current at the time” (2104). However, authors do not actually discover these ideas, rather they synthesize them into works of art. Therefore, if these ideas are not readily known to the author, then he has nothing to write about. Arnold say that, “for the creation of a masterwork of literature, two forces must concur, the power of the man, and the power of the moment” (2105). That is, the author needs to live in a society where true ideas are openly discussed and debated; a society where thought is cherished and then passed on, as it was in Ancient Greece or Renaissance England. If this is not the case, Arnold says that the author’s time would be better spent in preparing ideas for others, through a critical effort.

Having looked Arnold’s ideas on criticism, and how it will contribute to creativity, we can now look at the results. One major contribution of Arnold’s criticism has been the creation of the literary cannon. This is a collection of literature which is generally judged as the best in the world, and would follow Arnold’s idea that having read the best is important in the creating the best. We can also see that present day critics have had a direct descent from Arnold and his theory. The main focus of their criticism is to be disinteres

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