Dover Beach is a lyric poem by the English poet Matthew Arnold. It was first published in 1867 in the collection New Poems. However, its composition may have begun as early as 1849, the most likely date is 1851.
The poem’s title and its initial lines vividly depict the shoreline of Dover, an English ferry port situated in Kent, overlooking Calais, France, at the Strait of Dover. This location holds particular significance as it was where Matthew Arnold spent his honeymoon in 1851. In this area of England, the beaches are often characterized by the presence of small stones or pebbles instead of sand, and Arnold eloquently portrays the sound of the sea receding over these stones as a “grating roar.”
Themes: Nature, Religion, The world is in decline without faith.
Poetic Form: Free Verse
Time Period: 19th Century
Structure and Form: ‘Dover Beach’ is made up of four stanzas from fourteen to six lines containing a variable number of lines in length, written in irregular iambic pentameter.
“Dover Beach” is a dramatic monologue in which Matthew Arnold mourns the decline of genuine Christian faith in England during the mid-1800s, a period when the influence of science began to dominate public thinking. The poem reflects on a time when faith held a firm grip on society, enveloping the population with its embrace. However, he contends that faith is gradually yielding ground to the sciences, with a particular reference to evolutionary ideas notably, Charles Darwin’s publication of “The Origin of Species” in 1859.
The opening lines of this poem describe a serene and still evening by the sea. The sea is calm, indicating that the waters are not turbulent or rough. The tide is high, and the moonlight shines beautifully over the straits across the water. In the distance, the light on the French coast there is a flickering light that briefly gleams and then disappears. The cliffs of England are visible in the tranquil bay. These lines set the stage for a serene and contemplative atmosphere by the sea.
The speaker is inviting someone (his lover) to the window to enjoy the pleasant night air. They (the speaker and listener) draw attention to the continuous sound coming from the shore, where the sea meets the moonlit land. This sound is described as the “grating roar” of pebbles being pulled back by the waves and then tossed onto the beach. This cycle of sounds, which the speaker describes as having a slow and trembling rhythm, is characterized by a sense of ceaseless repetition and melancholy. The phrase “tremulous cadence” refers to a rhythm or pattern of sound that is characterized by a slight trembling or quivering quality, which the speaker refers to as the “eternal note of sadness.” These lines capture the timeless and somewhat mournful nature of the sea’s rhythm.
The reference to Sophocles suggests that even in ancient times, people were attuned to the sound of the sea, and it had an impact on their thoughts and creative inspiration. Sophocles, known for his tragedies, might have found in the sea’s “turbid ebb and flow” a metaphor for the unpredictable and tumultuous nature of human suffering and the ups and downs of life.
The speaker then implies that this connection between the sound of the sea and profound thoughts is not limited to the Aegean but can also be experienced in the context of the “distant northern sea,” suggesting that the sea’s timeless and contemplative quality transcends geographical and temporal boundaries. It reminds us that the natural world, including the sea, has the power to evoke deep and universal reflections on the human condition, regardless of where and when it is experienced.
Here Matthew Arnold reflects on how the sound of the sea, which has been heard by people for centuries, including the ancient Greek playwright Sophocles on the Aegean Sea, can evoke deep and universal thoughts and emotions.
In the third stanza, the opening line “Sea of Faith,” is symbolic of the once-strong and encompassing presence of religious faith in the world. Initially, this faith is portrayed as being at its peak, much like the sea at high tide. It is vividly described as encircling the Earth like a radiant girdle, suggesting that religious faith was once a powerful and unifying force that surrounded and embraced humanity.
However, the tone changes dramatically in the latter part of the passage. The speaker laments that they now only hear the “melancholy, long, withdrawing roar” of this once-mighty Sea of Faith. This withdrawal of faith is depicted as akin to the receding of the tide. It is retreating, fading away, and diminishing, driven by the “night-wind.” The “vast edges drear and naked shingles of the world” evoke a desolate and barren image, symbolizing a world that has become spiritually impoverished and lacking in the comforting presence of faith.
In essence, these lines convey the speaker’s sense of loss and nostalgia for a time when faith was strong and pervasive but has since waned, leaving behind a world that feels spiritually desolate and disconnected from the profound beliefs that once bound humanity together. It reflects a broader theme in Matthew Arnold’s work of grappling with the challenges of faith and the impact of changing beliefs on society.
In the last stanza of the poem, the speaker is addressing a person (lover), urging them(speaker and lover) to be honest and loyal in their relationship. The speaker acknowledges the allure of the world, describing it as a place that appears full of possibilities and beauty, like a land of dreams. However, the speaker then contrasts this seemingly idyllic world with a stark reality, suggesting that the world, despite its surface appeal, lacks essential qualities such as genuine joy, love, light, certainty, peace, and solace for suffering. It is depicted as a place of confusion and turmoil, where people are engaged in conflicts and struggles, often in the darkness of ignorance.
The reference to a “darkling plain” implies a landscape shrouded in darkness and uncertainty, emphasizing the bleakness of the human condition. The phrase “swept with confused alarms of struggle and flight” describes a world filled with chaotic and disorienting conflicts, where individuals and groups are engaged in battles and flee from perceived threats.
The closing image of “ignorant armies clash by night” suggests that people are often in conflict without a clear understanding of the reasons behind their actions. This image underscores the idea that humanity’s struggles and conflicts can be driven by ignorance and lack of understanding.
Overall, these lines convey a sense of disillusionment with the world’s surface allure and a longing for the authenticity and fidelity of love as a source of meaning and stability amid the chaos and uncertainty of existence.
In conclusion, the poem is known for its melancholic and introspective tone, as well as its exploration of themes related to love, faith, and the changing nature of the world.