MATHEW ARNOLD

The Function of Criticism at the Present Time


Still, in full measure, the sense of creative activity belongs only to genuine creation; in literature we must never forget that. But what true man of letters ever can forget it? It is no such common matter for a gifted nature to come into possession of a current of true and living ideas, and to produce amidst the inspiration of them, that we are likely to underrate it. The epochs of Æschylus and Shakespeare make us feel their preëminence. In an epoch like those is, no doubt, the true life of literature; there is the promised land, towards which criticism can only beckon. That promised land it will not be ours to enter, and we shall die in the wilderness: but to have desired to enter it, to have saluted it from afar, is already, perhaps, the best distinction among contemporaries; it will certainly be the best title to esteem with posterity.

Alexandra Blaj

Mathew Arnold
 

Functia Criticii in Prezent

Totusi, intr-o mare masura, rolul activitatii creative apartine doar creatiei veritabile; nu trebuie sa uitam nici o data acest lucru in literatura. Dar ce adevarat om de litere il poate uita? Nu e deloc obisnuit ca un spirit inzestrat sa intre in posesia uni flux de idei reale si pline de viata si sa creeze sub influenta lor, astfel incat suntem inclinati sa subestimam acest fenomen. Epocile lui Eschil si Shakespeare ne fac sa constientizam superioritatea lor. Intr-o epoca precum acelea se afla fara indoiala adevarata viata a literaturii; acolo se afla tinutul fagaduit unde critica nu poate sa patrunda. Nici noi nu vom putea pasi in acel tinut si vom muri in salbaticie: dar simpla dorinta de a ajunge acolo, admirarea lui de la distant este deja, pe cat posibil, cea mai buna distinctie intre contemporani; cu siguranta va fi titlul cel mai demn de stima urmasilor.