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.

Nicoleta Stroie

Mathew Arnold
 

Functia criticii in prezent

Totusi, semnificatia activitatii creatoare, apartine in deplina masura, numai creatiei autentice; in literatura nu trebuie sa se uite niciodata asta. Dar care literat adevarat poate uita vreodata? Nu este o problema comuna pentru o natura inzestrata sa intre in posesia unui curent de idei despre adevar si viata, si sa creeze in inspiratia acestora, pe care suntem tentati sa o subapreciem. Epocile lui Eschil si Shakespeare ne fac sa simtim eminenta lor. Intr-o epoca ca acelea zace, fara indoiala, adevarata viata a literaturii; acolo este taramul fagaduintei, pe care critica nu poate decat sa o salute. In acel taram al fagaduintei nu vom avea dreptul sa intram si vom muri in pustietate: dar pentru a fi dorit sa intram, pentru a-l fi salutat de la departare, este deja, poate, cea mai buna distinctie intre contemporani; va fi cu siguranta cel mai bun titlu pentru a fi stimat in posteritate.