Unification and Dissociation of Sensibility in Poetry

Unification and Dissociation of Sensibility

Understanding the Concepts

The terms "unification of sensibility" and "dissociation of sensibility" are closely related but distinct concepts in literary criticism and cognitive philosophy. They explore the relationship between the individual (subject) and the world (object), particularly in the context of poetic expression.

Continuity vs. Discontinuity:

• Continuity: This perspective suggests a seamless connection between the subject and object, where emotions and experiences are directly intertwined with the external world.
• Discontinuity: This view posits a separation between the subject and object, where the individual's thoughts and feelings are distinct from the external stimuli that evoke them.

T.S. Eliot and the Significance of Unification

The poet and critic T.S. Eliot argued that unification of sensibility is crucial for producing great poetry. He believed that poets with a unified sensibility do not distinguish between their emotions and the objects that trigger those emotions, resulting in a more authentic and powerful expression.

Eliot contended that sensibility was unified until the 17th century, after which a dissociation of sensibility occurred. He attributed this shift to the rise of empirical science, which emphasized objectivity and separation between the observer and the observed.

Historical Shifts in Sensibility

• Up to the 17th Century: Unification of sensibility prevailed, with poets experiencing a direct connection between thought and feeling.
• 17th Century: The scientific revolution and figures like Newton led to a dissociation of sensibility, emphasizing reason and objectivity.
• 18th Century (Age of Reason): Poetry focused primarily on intellectual thought and logic.
• Early 19th Century (Romanticism): A shift towards emotional expression and individual experience.
• Late 19th Century (Victorian Age): Poets grappled with the divided sensibility, experiencing thought and feeling as separate entities.
• Early 20th Century (Modernist Poetry): Eliot and other modernists sought a new unification of sensibility, blending intellectual and emotional elements in their works.

Conclusion

The concepts of unification and dissociation of sensibility provide valuable insights into the evolution of poetic expression and the relationship between the poet, their emotions, and the external world. While Eliot championed the unified sensibility as ideal for creating great poetry, the historical shifts in sensibility demonstrate the dynamic nature of artistic expression and its connection to broader intellectual and cultural movements.