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.

Mihaela Daniela Rosu

Mathew Arnold
 

Functiile criticii in prezent

Totusi, intreaga semnificatie a activitatii creatoare apartine creatiei pure; nu trebuie sa uitam niciodata asta in literatura. Dar cum ar putea un adevarat literat sa uite de acest lucru? Nu este o problema atat de comuna pentru o minte luminata sa intre in posesia unui curent de idei vii si adevarate si sa produca prin intermediul inspiratiei lor ceva ce este posibil ca noi sa subapreciam. Epocile lui Æschylus si Shakespeare ne fac sa simtim aceasta preeminenta. Intr-o epoca asemeni acelora este, fara indoiala, adevarata viata a literaturii ; acolo este taramul fagaduintei spre care criticul nu poate decat sa priveasca. Pe acel taram al fagaduintei noi nu putem intra si vom muri in salbaticie ; dar faptul ca am vrut sa intram, ca am salutat-o de departe este deja cea mai buna distinctie a noastra printre contemporani ; va fi cu siguranta cel mai bun titlu de stima pentru posteritate.