Culture and Anarchy

Description

Culture and Anarchy is a volume of weekly articles written by Matthew Arnold, first appeared in Cornhill Magazine between 1867-1868 and set as a tome in 1869. The introduction was furthered in 1875.

Matthew’s popular work on culture instituted his High Victorian social itinerary which continued to become influential in arguments.

In accordance with his outlook proceeded in the volume, “Culture […] is a study of perfection”. He further wrote that: “[Culture] seeks to do away with classes; to make the best that has been thought and known in the world current everywhere; to make all men live in an atmosphere of sweetness and light […]”.

His regularly recited catchphrase “[culture is] the best which has been thought and said” derives from the Preface to Culture and Anarchy:

“The whole scope of the essay is to recommend culture as the great help out of our present difficulties; culture being a pursuit of our total perfection by means of getting to know, on all the matters which most concern us, the best which has been thought and said in the world, and, through this knowledge, turning a stream of fresh and free thought upon our stock notions and habits, which we now follow staunchly but mechanically, vainly imagining that there is a virtue in following them staunchly which makes up for the mischief of following them mechanically.”

The volume comprises many of the lexes such as culture, sweetness and light, Barbarian, Philistine, Hebraism, and a lot more; which are mostly related with his inspiration in writing.

Matthew Arnold was a British poet and cultural analyst who became an examiner of learning institutes. His father was Thomas Arnold, the successful director of Rugby School, and brother to both Tom Arnold, literary educator, and William Delafield Arnold, writer and provincial head.
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