Matthew Arnold stands out as a significant Victorian poet, notable for his deep religious sentiment compared to his contemporaries. However, unlike Tennyson, he does not effectively reflect the essence of his time in his poetry. Arnold struggles to reconcile the conflicts between materialism and spiritual development, expressing a concern that Victorians might lose sight of God amid the era's material progress. He yearns for stability in their lives.
This quest for faith and stability is vividly portrayed in
his poem "Dover Beach." The poem conveys Arnold's melancholy as he
observes the retreating waves, which symbolize a decline in spiritual progress.
He laments that Victorians are preoccupied with earthly pursuits, neglecting
their spiritual growth. He reflects on the diminishing "Sea of
Faith," which was once abundant but now is receding, as illustrated in the
lines:
Was once, too, at the full, and round earth's shore
Lay like the folds of a bright girdle furled.
But now I only hear
Its melancholy, long withdrawing roar,
Retreating."
In "The Scholar Gypsy," Arnold further reveals his
commitment to religion and his belief that Victorians are fragmented in their
aspirations. He describes them as striving without clear purpose, chasing after
illusions, while the Scholar Gypsy maintains a singular aim and unwavering
hope:
Thou hast one aim, one business, one desire."
Similarly, "Thyrsis" reflects Arnold's longing for
faith and stability, mourning the loss of a friend and, symbolically, the
spiritual decline of his contemporaries. He suggests that Victorians are
pursuing trivial rewards while neglecting the deeper, intangible gifts that
cannot be bought with money. The Scholar Gypsy represents the pursuit of a
higher light that many lack.
Overall, Arnold's poetry is imbued with a profound sense of
melancholy stemming from his earnest desire for faith and stability among the
Victorians, setting him apart from his peers.