---- THE FUNCTION OF CRITICISM BY T.

S ELIOT ----

The function of criticism is an essay written by T.S Eliot. It was published in 1923. It was a
response to John Middleton Murry's work "Romanticism and Tradition" in which middleton
Murry challenged the ideas of T.S Eliot presented in his previous work "Tradition and
Individual Talent".

Why criticism is important ❓

1 Criticism helps in judging the merits and demerits of any work of art.
2. Criticism does not necessarily imply to find faults.
3. Criticism tells us about the value of any literary work by explaining it.
4. The main purpose of criticism is to understand literary works in broader sense.
5. Through criticism we understand the possible meaning of work of art.

The function of criticism is divided into 4 parts :-

PART I :- It deals with Eliot's views on critic and the critical work of art.
PART II :- It deals with Murry's views on "Romanticism and Classicism" and Eliot's
contradiction with it.
PART III :- It deals with Eliot's criticism to Murry.
PART IV :- It deals with the relation of criticism with the creative work of art.

PART I :- Eliot's views on critic and the critical work of art.

- Eliot says that it is commonly believed that criticism is an autotelic activity (meaning :-
Having a goal or purpose in itself). However it is quite a wrong statement because criticism
is always about something. Eliot further says that those who consider criticism as an
autotelic activity should be strictly criticised.
- According to T.S Eliot criticism is the "commentation and exposition / explanation" of works
of art by means of written words.
- Some critics like Mathew Arnold says that art may have some other purpose like art
teaches us morality, gives us religious and cultural knowledge but according to T.S Eliot art
need not to be aware of these purpose, rather it performs its function better by pleasing the
audience. But Eliot says that criticism always has one and only one definite purpose and that
purpose is, "Elucidation (explanation) of work of art and correction of taste".
- T.S Eliot sees criticism as an impersonal process, and argues that rather than expressing a
critic's own emotions or impressions about a work, criticism is grounded in facts.
- T.S Eliot believes that the true purpose of a critic is to present the facts related to the work
in front of the readers so that the reader can also make judgement and give their opinions
about the work of art. But the facts are only related to the work itself and not about it's writer
because those details are insignificant. The true critic should only judge the work itself and is
not concerned or influenced by any factors related to the artist.
- In this regard then, it is essential that the critic is knowledgeable about the facts related to
the work of art, i.e its theme, structure, origin, setting e.t.c. Eliot says that this knowledge can
only be developed over a long period of time.
- According to T.S Eliot a critic should have good knowledge about his past writers so that
they can understand the connection between the past and the present.
- T.S Eliot says that all critics are human beings and thus can have different opinions
regarding the literary work. However, the ultimate aim of every critic should be to enlighten (
give greater knowledge and understanding) the reader through the text.
- A critic should never be a blind follower of other critics and they should try to make
differences with other critics in order to become better than others.

PART II :- Murry's views on "Romanticism and Classicism" and Eliot's contradiction

with it.

-Murry believed that classicism and romanticism cannot go side by side because both are
different from each other and we cannot follow classicism and romanticism at the same time.
Murry further says that classicism is the feature of French and romanticism is the feature of
England and as he is from England, romanticism is more important for him than the other.
Eliot criticises the thinking of Murry as he does not give significance to classicism.
- John Middleton Murry believes that a critic should hear and follow his / her inner voice and
no restrictions to follow outside authority (rules) . Murry said that rules are made to be
broken. Thus Eliot criticises Murry's attitude for not following the rules. T.S Eliot objected by
stating that concept of inner voice is like advocating doing what one likes.

Difference between Classicism and Romanticism according to T.S Eliot :-

-T.S Eliot says that classicism is complete and mature and on the other hand romanticism is
fragment and immature. So according to Eliot classicism is much better than romanticism.

PART III :- Eliot's criticism to Murry

-According to T.S Eliot function of criticism is to search some common rules or principles for
the perfection of art. This function can only be served when the tradition of art is followed
which has been derived from the long experience of ages.
Thus someone believing in the inner voice could not value criticism. Eliot calls
inner voice "whiggery" which means liberal.

PART IV :- Relation of criticism with the creative work of art.

-In the final and concluding part of the essay Eliot says that some people like Mathew Arnold
and Middleton Murry consider criticism superior than the creative work of art but Eliot
criticises these type of peoples.
- According to T.S Eliot a creative work of art can only be produced through criticism which
includes analysis, judgement and knowing the merits and demerits of the work. Hence
criticism and creative art co-exist and go hand in hand.
- According to T.S Eliot the highest kind of criticism is that which is done by writer himself for
his creative work of art.
- T.S Eliot says that some writers are more creative and superior to others only because their
critical faculty is superior than others.

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