Matthew Arnold’s ‘Dover Beach’: Faith in a Faithless Age

The poet urges a return to tradition and belief in God in the age of science.

“The Cliffs of Dover,” 1881, by Theo van Rysselberghe. The cliffs overlook the setting of Matthew Arnold's poem "Dover Beach." Public Domain

In the year 1851, the Romantic dream of poetry seemed all but dissipated, replaced by Victorian reality. Imagination and poetry gave way to pragmatism, utilitarianism, and material progress. Wonder at the sublime in nature was replaced by marvel at technological advancements.

It was difficult to live as a person of faith when science provided life’s answers. It was difficult to conceive of a use for art, when its benefit couldn’t be measured.