Page 16 - DENG501_LITERARY_CRITICISM_AND_THEORIES

Literary Criticism and Theories

Notes 1.4.1 What were His Objections?
Plato objected to poetry on three grounds, viz., Education, Philosophical and moral view point.
Plato's objection to Poetry from the point of view of Education:
1. In 'The Republic' Book II: He condemns poetry as fostering evil habits and vices in children.
Homer's epics were part of studies. Heroes of epics were not examples of sound or ideal
morality. They were lusty, cunning, and cruel - war mongers. Even Gods were no better.
2. Plato writes: "if we mean our future guardians to regard the habit of quarreling among
themselves as of all things the basest, no word should be said to them of the wars in the
heaven, or of the plots and fighting of the gods against one another, for they are not true….
If they would only believe as we would tell them that quarreling is unholy, and that never up
to this time has there been any quarreling between citizens…… these tales (of epics) must not
be admitted into our State, whether they are supposed to have allegorical meaning or not."
Thus he objected on the ground that poetry does not cultivate good habits among children.
Objection from Philosophical Point of View
1. In 'The Republic' Book X: Poetry does not lead to, but drives us away form the realization of
the ultimate reality - the Truth.
2. Philosophy is better than poetry because Philosophy deals with idea and poetry is twice
removed from original idea.
3. Plato says: "The imitator or maker of the image knows nothing of true existence; he knows
appearance only …. The imitative art is an inferior who marries an inferior and has inferior
offspring.
Objection from the Moral Point of View
1. In the same book in 'The Republic': Soul of man has higher principles of reason (which is the
essence of its being) as well as lower constituted of baser impulses and emotions. Whatever
encourages and strengthens the rational principle is good, and emotional is bad.
2. Poetry waters and nourishes the baser impulses of men - emotional, sentimental and sorrowful.
Plato says: "Then the imitative poet who aims at being popular is not by nature made, nor is his
art intended, to please or to affect the rational principle in the soul; but he will prefer the passionate
and fitful temper, which is easily limited …. And therefore we shall be right in refusing to admit
him into a well-ordered state, because he awakens and nourishes and strengthen the feelings and
impairs the reason … Poetry feeds and waters the passion instead of drying them up; she lets them
rule, although they ought to be controlled, if mankind are ever to increase in happiness and
virtue."
1.4.2 Why he Objected to Poetry?
These are Plato's principal charges on poetry and objection to it. Before we pass on any judgement,
we should not forget to keep in view the time in which he lived. During his time:
• There was political instability
• Education was in sorry state. Homer was part of studies - and Homer's epics were
misrepresented and misinterpreted.
• Women were regarded inferior human beings - slavery was wide spread.
• Best time of Greek literature was over - corruption and degeneration in literature.
• Confusion prevailed in all sphere of life - intellect, moral, political and education.
Thus, in Plato's time the poets added fuel to the fire. He looked at poets as breeders of falsehood
and poetry as mother of lies. And so the chief reasons for his objecting poets were:
• it is not ethical because it promotes undesirable passions,
• it is not philosophical because it does not provide true knowledge, and

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