Humanity In Matthew Arnold's Poem Dover Beach

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There are many different perspectives on humanity and its impact on the universe. Positively spoken from Gandhi himself, "You must not lose faith in humanity. Humanity is an ocean; if a few drops of the ocean are dirty, the ocean does not become dirty." Such an outlook may be true in some individuals’ lives, however, the ocean symbolized in the poetry being analyzed will not be as motivational, but will be giving a darker contrast to the waters described in the quote above. The Poem “Dover Beach” by Matthew Arnold skillfully expresses emotion about the timeless relationship between nature and humanity utilizing beautiful imagery, austere tonality, usage of connotation, and the overall rhyme and rhythm implemented to formulate a powerful message. Matthew Arnold was a British poet born in 1822 who worked at schools and taught poetry for most of his life believing its importance is to teach individuals a moral lesson about life and death – that is to “animate and ennoble” people to gain new insight (Madden 1160). This is crucial to the purpose of “Dover Beach” …show more content…

The beach was comfortably described with words such as “calm,” “tranquil,” and “sweet to describe place where the author would envision being able to settle in and call home. However, such feelings of safety seem to vanish as the world and the tide begins “retreating” under an overwhelming sense of “melancholy” and “drear.” Arnold blames much of the impact placed on nature under human existence, where he states, “And we are here as on a darkling plain/ Swept with confused alarms of struggle and flight/ Where ignorant armies clash by night.” (35-37). The author’s attitude towards humanity is undoubtedly negative since he regards them as foolish and unable to find peace, which consequently changes the world itself into a grim “darkling plain” that has no joy to offer