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.

Iulia Vajea

Mathew Arnold
 

Rolul Criticii in zile noastre

Totusi, in mare masura,sensul activitatii creatoare apartine , in exclusivitate, creatiei pure; in literature, nu trebuie uitat niciodata acest lucru. Dar ,oare, un filolog poate uita vreodata un adevar? Nu este o problema atat de comuna pentru o natura inzestrata sa intre in posesia unor idei uzuale si reale, referitoare la probleme de viata si sa produca inspiratie printre ele, lucru pe care suntem indreptatiti sa nu-l apreciem. Nu putem sa nu remarcam importanta celor doua epoci, Eschylus si Shakespeare. Fara indoiala, adevarata viata din litaratura se afla in aceste epoci; este pamantul fagaduintei cu care criticii pot doar sa comunice. Nu ni se va permite sa pasim pe acest pamant al fagaduintei si vom muri in salbaticiune. Dorinta de a pasi pe acest pamant si de a-l salute din departare , este ,poate, cea mai buna distinctive printre contemporani si cu siguranta va fi cea mai buna denumire pentru a estima posterioritatea.