Dover Beach : Themes
Dover Beach is a notable literary work by Matthew Arnold. A complete discussion of this literary work is given, which will help you enhance your literary skills and prepare for the exam. Read the Main texts, Key info, Summary, Themes, Characters, Literary devices, Quotations, Notes, and various study materials of Dover Beach.
Themes
Loss of Faith: The poem talks about how people no longer believe in religion or spiritual truth as they did before. The “Sea of Faith” is going away, and this makes the speaker feel sad and alone. He misses the comfort and hope that faith once gave to people.
Sadness and Human Suffering: The sound of the sea reminds the speaker of pain and sadness in the world. He says that even the Greek writer Sophocles felt this sadness long ago. The poem shows that human life has always had suffering, and it still continues.
Love and Trust: Even though the world is full of confusion and pain, the speaker believes that true love can give meaning. He tells his beloved that they must be honest and loyal to each other. Love is shown as the only safe thing in a dark and troubled world.
Illusion vs. Reality: The world looks beautiful on the outside, like a dream. But the speaker says that inside, there is no real joy, peace, or truth. The poem tells us that the world is not as perfect as it seems. We must see the truth behind the surface.