The Downfall of Man and Religion

Rise and fall is the part of man, religion and universe and behind it works the theory of natural evolution according to the passage of time. There was a time when religion was very powerful in days gone by but in modern age religion is weak on earth in all countries and on the contrary politics is strong on earth. The clever priests have separated religion from politics and man’s life saying them it is for holy men.

Fie upon those who say that religion is useless in modern age and there is no deed of religion in modern age and that is why religion has limited to the mosques, churches and temples and poor men and women attend the religious ceremonies in temples, mosques and churches. The rich men and women do not go in the mosques, churches and temples but on important occasions but for their own purpose.

Once Mathew Arnold was sitting in his window watching the sight of the sea all alone, an idea strikes in his mind looking at the round shape of the sea stone spreading on the sea shore, he thinks the force of sea waves have made them round striking them against the shore again and again. Pondering over the this situation he concludes that the religions of the whole have lost its beings just like the sea stones have lost its being and become round now going everywhere where the waves go and come.

Keeping in mind the whole sight he wrote a poem in beautiful words name Dover Beach. It is one of the best poems of Mathew Arnold. Now I yell you its story in simple words. I think it’s a heart touching poem that motivates human thoughts feelings and emotions reading the poem.

Mathew Arnold’s poem Dover Beach is the best poem ever written on our weak belief in the present age and our knowingly turning face from religion just for the sake of materialism. It is a Victorian poem that throws light on the corrupt economics, politics, religious society, industrialization, urbanization and rapidly deterioration of our belief. Once the poet was sitting in his window sill and enjoying the moon light night, striking pebbles against the seashore by the force of sea water and their hasty coming and going and their round egg shape produced a sad sound full of something saying to the visitors. Pondering over the voice he at once reminded of Sophocles a Greek Tragedian who had also heard the sea sound and cried in these words:

“Sophocles long ago, heard it

Into his mind the turbid ebb and flow

Of human misery, we find also in the sound a thought

Hearing it by this northern sea,’

Looking at this beautiful night view he at once called on his beloved to enjoy the sea waves, pebbles’ dance, full of French light plus a full view of England. Saying this he turns his attention to the sea roar full of sadness produced by the sea waves. He says:

“Come to the window sweet is night stir

Listen you hear the grating roar of pebbles

The eternal note of sadness in,”

Now he understands that there was a time when religion ruled everywhere just like the sea waves. Now the case is entirely reverse and our religion is a puppet in the hand of church-peoples. God’s commandments are being changed according to their will and wishes. Our beliefs in God and the Holy Bible have weakened. We have completely forgotten our religion. Therefore he says in these words:

“The sea of faith was once to at the full

And round earth’s shore but now I only hear

Its melancholy,”

At the end, the poet suggests to spread love among the peoples of the world so that love could rule all over the world. It is the best way to save religion from deterioration and moral degeneration.

To sum up, it is a beautiful philosophical poem of Arnold but full of satirical remarks with the help of natural international symbols to express his thoughts, feelings and emotions. He compares this world with a dark battle field where the blind armies are fighting killing their friends considering them their enemies. He ends this poem saying this:

“And we are here as on a darkling plain

Swept with confused alarms of struggle and flight

Where ignorant armies clash by night,”