Shakespeare by Matthew Arnold

 Shakespeare

-      Matthew Arnold

Others abide our question. Thou art free.

We ask and ask—Thou smilest and art still,

Out-topping knowledge. For the loftiest hill,

Who to the stars uncrowns his majesty,

 

Planting his steadfast footsteps in the sea,

Making the heaven of heavens his dwelling-place,

Spares but the cloudy border of his base

To the foil'd searching of mortality;

 

And thou, who didst the stars and sunbeams know,

Self-school'd, self-scann'd, self-honour'd, self-secure,

Didst tread on earth unguess'd at.—Better so!

 

All pains the immortal spirit must endure,

All weakness which impairs, all griefs which bow,

Find their sole speech in that victorious brow.

 

Introduction

Matthew Arnold was a major Victorian poet, critic, and thinker. He deeply admired William Shakespeare. In his sonnet titled Shakespeare, Arnold praises the unmatched greatness of the Bard. The poem is a tribute to Shakespeare’s genius, wisdom, silence, and his complete understanding of human life. It reflects Arnold’s belief that Shakespeare was beyond comparison, even beyond questioning.

 

1. Shakespeare's Freedom from Criticism

Arnold begins the poem with the line, “Others abide our question. Thou art free.” This means that while other writers must answer to critics and readers, Shakespeare is free from such demands. He stands above all questioning. His greatness is so complete that no one can judge or explain it fully.

 

2. Shakespeare’s Deep Understanding of Life

Arnold believes that Shakespeare had a rare insight into human nature. He says Shakespeare “saw life steadily and saw it whole.”
This means he understood life with clarity and balance. He saw all parts of human experience—love, sorrow, ambition, fear, joy—and presented them truthfully in his plays. His vision was deep, steady, and complete.

 

3. The Power of Silence

Arnold praises Shakespeare’s silence. Despite his deep wisdom, Shakespeare never explained his own life. He did not write about his personal thoughts or beliefs. Instead, he let his characters and stories speak. Arnold sees this silence as a form of greatness. True genius, he says, does not need to boast or explain.

4. Shakespeare’s Divine Genius

Arnold compares Shakespeare to natural forces like mountains and oceans. He suggests that Shakespeare’s greatness was not learned—it was a gift. He calls him “self-schooled, self-scanned, self-honoured, self-secure.”
This means Shakespeare’s genius came from within. He learned from his own mind and spirit. Arnold presents him almost as a divine figure with god-like understanding.

 

5. A Soul of Great Largeness

Arnold says Shakespeare possessed “the largeness of the soul.”
This means his spirit was vast, full of wisdom, patience, and calm strength. He was not just a poet or dramatist. He was a moral teacher who gave the world a mirror to see itself. His plays are filled with lessons about life, love, power, and destiny.

 

6. Tone and Style of the Poem

The tone of the poem is reverent and calm. Arnold’s language is serious but not loud. He writes in the form of a Petrarchan sonnet. His words show quiet respect and deep admiration. The poem has no dramatic emotion—it reflects steady thought and moral depth, just like the poet’s view of Shakespeare himself.

 

Conclusion

Matthew Arnold’s Shakespeare is more than praise—it is a poem of worship. Arnold places Shakespeare above all others in the world of literature. He honors his silence, his insight, and his spiritual greatness. The poem reminds us that true genius often works quietly, and the highest wisdom may not explain itself. Arnold presents Shakespeare as not only the greatest writer, but also as a silent prophet who understood the whole of life and chose to speak only through art.

 

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