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.

Alexandru Macovescu

Mathew Arnold
 

Rolul criticii in prezent

Totusi, doar creatia autentica se desfasoara in sensul activitatii creative; si mai cu seama in literatura. Dar cum ar putea un scriitor inzestrat sa uite aceasta sentinta? Nu este usor nici pentru cei talentati sa aibe idei bune si originale pe care sa le foloseasca in operele lor, lucru pe care noi adesea il subestimam. Epocile in care au scris Eschil sau Shakespeare ne fac sa ne simtim inferiori. Intr-o asemenea epoca s-a creat fara indoiala literatura adevarata; acestea reprezinta o tara a fagaduintei, in fata careia criticii pot doar sa se incline cu respect. Noi nu vom pasi niciodata pe acest pamant al fagaduintei si suntem sortiti sa pierim in pustietate. Dar dorinta de a ajunge acolo, de a-l zari macar de departe, este poate deja ceea ce face deosebirea dintre contemporanii nostri; aceasta dorinta va fi de sigur unicul mijloc de a ramane ca operele lor sa ramana pentru posteritate.