Literary Criticism
“Modern Style Theory” ()
Walter Pater(1839-1894)
Q:-Pater’s views on Modern style theory
Q:- “A writer, full of a mater he is before all things anxious to express, may think of those laws, the limitations of vocabulary, structure and the like as a restriction, but if a real artist we find in them an opportunity. Justify the argument. Or Write a not on the limitation and achievements of Walter Pater as a critic keeping his ‘style’ theory in mind. Or Examine the Walter Pater’s view on Style.
v Introduction:-
The 19th century was a period of intellectual activity in England. The scientific development had a great effect on the literature of this period. There was the sprit of liberty and democracy everywhere on account of industrial progress, there were classes in the society, the capitalist and laborers. The rich exploited the poor. Some writers came to their help and presented this bitter social realty in their works. Against such writer, there were some writer who were in favour of art and beauty. They thought that the people were deprived of aesthetic tradition due to hard work and love for wealth. They also believed that the modern civilization spoilt the beauty their art for artist sold their art for money only. They wanted to preserve the beauty and purity of art.
v Art for Art’s sake:-
A regular movement started in France and in England during the second half of the nineteen century. ‘Art for Arts’ sake’ was the slogan of this movement. Flaubert and Gautier originated it in France. James Whistler imported in to England and Oscar While and Walter Pater followed it their works. In America Edgar Allan Poe followed this esthetic moment and said,’ “I make beauty the province of the poem.”
v Advocate of art: (style)
Pater was a great advocate of art for art’s sake as Arnold was an advocate of ‘Art for life’s sake’. He gave more importance to expression than to matter. He believed that ‘delight is the chief, if not the only aim of poetry.’ In his definition of style we find echo of Longinus. He declared that
“Style reveals the artist’s soul itself.”
Thus style is the central problem of the literary art. The artist is a lover of words. He put music on a much lighter pedestal than other fine arts. He found fusion of soul and sense in poetry. Pater also showed difference between good art and great art in his essay, “on style”, he points out that “Good art is not necessarily great art because great art has something impressive in the quality of the matter it informs of control” It is related to great and note of revolt and largeness of hope. “
v Architectural concept of art:-
Pater is not a pedant. He uses proper words in proper place. He des not uses two words where one is enough. He has an architectural concept of art. He foresees the end in the beginning. He creates a conscious artistic structure. He point out that the writers’ means of expression are diction, design and personality. By diction, he mans the choice of words, style is the manner of writing. It is commonly construed with matter. Something the reader remarks that the style or manner is good but the matter is bad. Here matter means only raw material but of which an artist makes something which is more interesting and beautiful for example wood is the mater of material out of which cloth is made and the cloth is matter out of which coats were made in this same way words are the poet. Thus the matter means the thought of ideas which the artist wants to express.
v Design organic whole
The requirement of style is the combination of words into an organic whole. It is not just a series of words or sentence, but an architectural design which has an organic unity. Pater call it ‘the necessity of mind in style’. It is the work of the mind to combine word with word, phrases with phrase, sentence with sentence, part with part till they become one whole and one with the subject. It is like an Aristotelian pot with a beginning a middle and an end.
v Personality the soul in stye:-
The third requirement of the style is ‘the soul in style’, with all the unity of design; style may lack warmth, colour and perfume. The writer’s personality gives this living touch. It is his breath in his work. He communicates his personality through language. By mind, the literary artist reaches us step by step, but by ‘soul’ he overcomes us. Here we get the man in his style. At the same time, it has something universal or the ‘soul’ of the humanity in it. Flaubert does not regret the old dictum
‘Style is the man’,
but he goes a step ahead and say,
‘Style is the real man’.
Pater says,
“Good art depends upon the mind and great art depends upon mind & the soul.”
Such art increases men’s’ happiness enlarges our sympathies, ennobles our soul and takes us to the glory of God. Pater admires lamb’s style for his touch of friendship, warmth, love and care and also for his deep sympathy for the weak and the oppressed. In the mater of style he considers lamb next to Shakespeare on account of the reflection of his personality. Lamb’s sympathy and affection brings us into a close contact with his soul.
v Style and Composition
Here Pater shows the difference between style and composition. Both these words means combination of words, sentences and paragraphs in an order. But Composition depends upon mind only. It is the mechanical side of writing and it requires mechanical correctness only. But in style we find artist’s genuine expression of his personality. According to Pater, style is not the product of external forces only which work upon the artist’s personality. Though the artist’s personality is formed by the external forces, there is no direct relation between the external forces and style.
v Trick of style.
Pater further points out that style means the way in which we use words for he purpose of expression. Expressiveness is the main purpose of style. Language must be confused if the thought behind it is confused. He points out that style can not be clear unless, the thought is clear in a work of art if the words are sued to impress the reader without any striking idea, we call it ‘a trick of style’. In such a case, it is not style at all, but it is an insulting noise. Style is a gay, serious or ornamental, severe and odd according to he artist’s temper. Style will be haphazard, conventional and characterless if the artist’s mind is moving carelessly here and there. Thus Pater observes that style is the reflection of the artist’s personality.
v Conclusion:-
Thus Pater holds that the pleasure of the moment is the sole end of art. There is one room in his palace of art that is dedicated to the Service of God and 
No comments:
Post a Comment