Analysis of the poem Dover Beach by Matthew Arnold
Introduction:
Arnold’s most famous poem, "Dover Beach" written in 1851. It was inspired by two visits he and his new wife Frances made to the south coast of England, where the white cliffs of Dover stand, just twenty two miles from the coast of France. The poem was written during the Victorian age there was a development of industrialisation that led to capitalism which further led to individualism and greed. The Sea of Faith that once existed among the mankind gradually vanished. The Faith can refer to trust humanity religion, kindness, sympathy spiritualism and so on. Thus the greed gave a death blow to this faith.
Analysis:
One night, the poet is standing at the window of his room facing Dover Beach. It is full moon and the sea is also in high tide and it is calm and quiet. The sea and the shore are bathed in the moonlit night. The waves of the sea always strike against the seashore. The waves of sorrow always strike against the shore of human mind. The poet listens to the music of the waves, the slow rise and fall of the tides. The music of the sea is eternal.
Long ago Sophocles, the great Greek tragedian heard this music of the sea when he was standing on the seashore of the Mediterranean. It brought to his mind a thought. The thought was that human life is full of sorrow. The waves of sorrow always strike against the seashore of human mind. Sophocles wrote many Greek tragedies such as Oedipus Rex, Antigone etc.
When Matthew Arnold was standing on Dover Beach, he also heard the eternal music of the sea and it brought to his mind another thought. The Sea of Faith was full once upon a time all over the world. At that time people had great faith in God and religion. The Faith protected them and enhanced their dignity and spiritual beauty and confidence just like a beautiful dress, which gives him attractive personality, glamour and confidence. Whenever man confronted with problems and difficulties of life, he knelt down and prayed to God and he received spiritual comfort. It was enough for him. But when science and technology developed, man lost faith in God and religion. He ran after material comfort and forgot church and religion. This lack of faith led to decline of moral values and people lost peace and love.
Now the Sea of Faith is retreating and people live like “naked shingles of the seashore”. Their beautiful ornament is gone and they are exposed to the cold wind. The cold wind stands for problems and difficulties of life. They need spiritual help which, science and technology cannot give.
Matthew Arnold suggests remedy for this crisis. He knows well that people cannot go back to religion. He says,” Ah love, let us be true to one another! Religious faith is replaced by true love. According to Arnold, this world is a “land of dreams”. Nothing is true here. Nothing is real here. There is no love and hope. There is spiritual darkness everywhere and people are fighting and killing each other like “ignorant armies clash by night”. So the only solution is true love because God is love! If people live together in peace and love, God is also with them and the earth becomes heaven.
Introduction:
Arnold’s most famous poem, "Dover Beach" written in 1851. It was inspired by two visits he and his new wife Frances made to the south coast of England, where the white cliffs of Dover stand, just twenty two miles from the coast of France. The poem was written during the Victorian age there was a development of industrialisation that led to capitalism which further led to individualism and greed. The Sea of Faith that once existed among the mankind gradually vanished. The Faith can refer to trust humanity religion, kindness, sympathy spiritualism and so on. Thus the greed gave a death blow to this faith.
Analysis:
One night, the poet is standing at the window of his room facing Dover Beach. It is full moon and the sea is also in high tide and it is calm and quiet. The sea and the shore are bathed in the moonlit night. The waves of the sea always strike against the seashore. The waves of sorrow always strike against the shore of human mind. The poet listens to the music of the waves, the slow rise and fall of the tides. The music of the sea is eternal.
Long ago Sophocles, the great Greek tragedian heard this music of the sea when he was standing on the seashore of the Mediterranean. It brought to his mind a thought. The thought was that human life is full of sorrow. The waves of sorrow always strike against the seashore of human mind. Sophocles wrote many Greek tragedies such as Oedipus Rex, Antigone etc.
When Matthew Arnold was standing on Dover Beach, he also heard the eternal music of the sea and it brought to his mind another thought. The Sea of Faith was full once upon a time all over the world. At that time people had great faith in God and religion. The Faith protected them and enhanced their dignity and spiritual beauty and confidence just like a beautiful dress, which gives him attractive personality, glamour and confidence. Whenever man confronted with problems and difficulties of life, he knelt down and prayed to God and he received spiritual comfort. It was enough for him. But when science and technology developed, man lost faith in God and religion. He ran after material comfort and forgot church and religion. This lack of faith led to decline of moral values and people lost peace and love.
Now the Sea of Faith is retreating and people live like “naked shingles of the seashore”. Their beautiful ornament is gone and they are exposed to the cold wind. The cold wind stands for problems and difficulties of life. They need spiritual help which, science and technology cannot give.
Matthew Arnold suggests remedy for this crisis. He knows well that people cannot go back to religion. He says,” Ah love, let us be true to one another! Religious faith is replaced by true love. According to Arnold, this world is a “land of dreams”. Nothing is true here. Nothing is real here. There is no love and hope. There is spiritual darkness everywhere and people are fighting and killing each other like “ignorant armies clash by night”. So the only solution is true love because God is love! If people live together in peace and love, God is also with them and the earth becomes heaven.
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