Dover Beach

Dover Beach by Matthew Arnold

This poem by Matthew Arnold, highlights the eternal feelings and sad insights of one contemplating the world's problems. His sad thoughts begin from the presence of the vast English Channel. From its spanning waters, comes a "eternal note of sadness" (Arnold 892). He alludes back to the greek philosopher  Sophocles, who also heard this note of sadness. This quick allusion points out how this mournful outlook towards life's mysteries and vastness, has always created a sense of fear and sadness in humans. The speaker then references the loss of faith in his generation. Less and less people find comfort in the knowledge of a higher power. In a higher power we can confide in peace and acceptance, ignoring lives great erie mysteries and dismissing them as God's business to take care of. Without certainty to soothe us, the speaker references the next best things to hold off this sadness, each other. This transition from a people rigid in faith and a superior, mysterious being, and more for the faith and love and equality of fellow humans, has been quite evident. It is a different world, yet not an entirely bad world.