Mathew Arnold has a sad note in his writings. Why?
Answers
Arnold states that Sophocles, too, once heard the eternal note of sadness, and that it brought "human misery" into his mind. The "sadness" is the human fear of the unknown and the distress engendered by an ebbing-away of faith, which leaves us confused and without direction.
Answer:The poem has sad music about it sad like the slow, mournful beat ofthe waves described in it. It has that note of sadness and dissatisfaction that is so common in Arnold's writings. All things considered, it is one ofthe most beautiful poems in the language-simple and suggestive weighed with a heavy sweetness, yet restrained in expression as well as sentiment. D.S. Tatke makes the following comment on this poem- then heightens the meaning in the next eight lines by using the images to express the last journey which every one must make, so does Arnold in this poem build a beautiful picture of the calm sea and the moon-blanched shore and makes us aware of the fact that though from the distance the picture is so calm and peaceful yet those who live near enough always hear the grating roar ofpebbles and the eternal note of sadness and then deepens the meaning by giving it a philosophic content.