Function
of Criticism at the present time
-
Matthew Arnold
This
essay by Arnold was published in essays in criticism in the year 1865. The main
point of this easy was that the creative and constructive capacity is more
important than the critical capacity. Arnold here tries to elaborate his point
by the definition of criticism. He says that,
“It is the
endeavour in all branches of knowledge, theology, philosophy, history, art,
science, to see the object as in itself it really is.”
It
can be said that, in order to create anything which requires having an ability
to understand. According to Arnold, criticism is all about generating ideas
during a specific time and place in history. He further says that, literature
can only be generated in the existence of great ideas and in this way criticism
prepares the way for creation. He says that criticism and emotional writing is
almost equal and he against the people who undermine criticism.
He continuously tries to define criticism by saying
that
“The effort
that goes into it is almost the same as any creative activity.”
He
makes the comparison between Goethe and Wordsworth. According to him both of
them had equal creative and productive power but Goethe was one of the greatest
of critics, and we may sincerely congratulate ourselves that he has left us so
much criticism. He also says that one should first understand the world in
which they are living and then they should try to be creative.
According
to Arnold, any criticism is an outcome of extreme curiosity which is stepping
stone to knowledge. The curiosity must be disinterested. Critic should be free
to give his/her point of view. It suggests that criticism is free from any
external influence.
Criticism
should not allow itself to be submitted to any political consideration and at the
end it should serve nothing but itself. The function therefore is to give way
to the flow of idea and it should be followed by a lot of honesty and
self-duty.
Criticism should not be having any practical consideration. It
should be done without looking for any ends and it should be extremely creative
and never ending.
Arnold
also talks about scepticism and the mindset came into existence because of the
development of science during this period. Arnold believes that production of
good literature is depended on generation of contextual idea. In support of
this argument, Arnold gives a lot of importance to culture by calling it a
study of perfection and it should be taken as a harmonious link between
literature and thought process.
In this
essay Arnold further deals with the importance of criticism in education
because with the help of literature one can develop the understanding towards
political, social and literary aspects. He believes that criticism has an
important social function and therefore he advocates the importance of
criticism as a genre in school.
There
are certain questions to be addressed in order to understanding the critical
efforts and according to Arnold it is all about laying emphasis on the ideas
and having the capacity to scrutinize. The highest function of man is to
exercise creative power and get involved in creative activity. According to
Arnold, creativity is about ‘syntheses and ‘exposition’ not analysis and
discovery. Arnold places critical power lower than creative power. He does not
deny that creative activity can be done even if you are not producing great
works of literature or art.
Moving
further Arnold talks about the relationship between creative and critical power
and focus on
“Why any
literary creation is not possible without criticism?”
The answer of this question is that,
“Any critical
power propagates intellectual atmosphere in which art flourishes creative power
according to Arnold works with multitudes of fresh ideas can make creative
art.”
Instinct
in criticism is very important but it is always about shaping that instinct.
Criticism should not land itself to any political, social or practical
consideration of ideas. Combining everything Arnold finally defines criticism
as the idea of a disinterested endeavour to learn and propagate the best
thoughts in the world and this is to establish a series of fresh ideas.
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