To have the sense of creative activity is the great happiness and the great proof of being alive

To have the sense of creative activity is the great happiness and the great proof of being alive

Matthew Arnold, a prominent English poet and cultural critic of the 19th century, believed that the sense of creative activity was not only a source of great happiness but also a fundamental proof of being alive. Arnold's works often explored the tension between the pursuit of artistic expression and the constraints of society and tradition. In this context, the act of creating art was not just a means of self-expression, but a way of asserting one's individuality and vitality in the face of societal norms and expectations.

Arnold's own poetry and critical essays reflected his belief in the importance of creative activity as a form of personal and cultural renewal. In his poem "Dover Beach," Arnold laments the loss of faith and the erosion of traditional values in the modern world. However, he also finds solace in the enduring power of art to provide meaning and beauty in a world that seems increasingly bleak and uncertain. For Arnold, the act of creating art was a way of affirming one's humanity and asserting one's place in the world.

Arnold's views on creative activity were also shaped by his broader cultural and intellectual interests. As a critic, he was deeply engaged with the debates and controversies of his time, including the tensions between science and religion, tradition and modernity, and individualism and social responsibility. In this context, the act of creating art was not just a personal pursuit, but a way of engaging with the larger cultural and intellectual currents of the day.