Matthew Arnold's Literary Criticism and Cultural Theory

Matthew Arnold's Intellectual and Cultural Theories

The Concept of Disinterestedness in Criticism

Even colloquially, disinterestedness often carries a negative connotation; however, for Matthew Arnold, it signifies that a superior critic should remain focused exclusively on the intrinsic value of poetry. To focus solely on the poetry is not a negative trait. Critics should keep aloof—maintaining a sense of objective distance—from the practical view of things. Similarly, they should not be influenced by political considerations.

Arnold's idea of disinterestedness is of significant proportions. He posits that literature must maintain a disinterested voice so the reader can contemplate the work without disturbance. The writer should avoid writing in a way that compromises the neutrality of the piece, preventing undesired bias or sway. This is essentially the equivalent of critical objectivity; for Arnold, a proficient critic must be disinterested.

The Function of Criticism at the Present Time

In his 1864 essay, "The Function of Criticism at the Present Time," Arnold asserts that criticism should be a "dissemination of ideas, a disinterested endeavour to learn and propagate the best that is known and thought in the world." He argues that when evaluating a work, the primary aim is "to see the object as in itself it really is."

From his perspective, psychological, historical, and sociological backgrounds are irrelevant; dwelling on such aspects is considered dilettantism. Arnold also believed that in the quest for excellence, a critic should not limit themselves to their own national literature. Instead, they should draw upon foreign literature and ideas, as the propagation of ideas must be an objective endeavor.

Poetry as the Successor to Religion and Science

During Arnold's time, there were four fundamental pillars of thought: religion, science, philosophy, and literature/poetry. While religion and science were in conflict to capture the human mind, Arnold predicted that both would ultimately fail. He dismissed philosophy as being "no more than shadows and dreams and false shows of knowledge."

For Arnold, the only solid remaining foundation is poetry, which he believed would eventually replace religion, science, and philosophy. This poetry must possess "high seriousness," a solemnity that aligns with his Victorian ideologies.

Three Criteria for Evaluating Poetry

Arnold identifies three types of criteria used to differentiate and evaluate poetry:

• Personal Estimates: Based on individual taste.
• Historical Estimates: Based on the poet's place in history.
• Real Estimates: The objective evaluation of the work's intrinsic merit.

He argues that the first two are useless, stating that "neither the historical nor the personal approach will aid us; both approaches are fallacious since both are liable to make us praise and dispraise for reasons that have nothing to do with poetry." These are considered external criteria. In contrast, real estimates utilize the theory of touchstones—objective criteria used to compare and evaluate the quality of poetry.