Introduction
Just as Plato levelled charges against poetry and poets in his Republic, similarly during the Elizabethan era, a puritan Stephen Gosson opened the weapon of his pen against the poetry that was accustomed during the era. Like Aristotle, Sir Philip Sidney came to rescue as well as defend poetry through his book, An Apology for Poesy. The charges that have been levelled by Gosson against poetry are:
- Poetry is the waste of time.
- Poetry is the mother of lies.
- It is the nurse of abuse.
- Plato had rightly banished poets from his Republic.
Let's discuss how Sydney rebutted against such allegations against poetry in detail.
Poetry is Not a Waste of Time
Sydney answers the first allegation of Gosson against poetry that poetry is not a waste of time. According to Sydney, poetry is a branch of learning that aims at making a person learn the noble virtues of life. Poetry not only teaches noble virtues but also encourages a learner to put these virtues into practice. Sydney further adds that there is no other branch of learning that accomplishes the two-way implication of learning. He also goes on to say that there is no fruitful knowledge other than poetry due to the above-mentiuoned merit that makes poetry special.
Poetry is not a Mother of Lies
Sydney further continues defending poetry by claiming that poetry is not a mother of lies. He claims that a poet is the most truthful person as compared to other humans. He even makes clear that an astronomer may tell lies because later, his measurements may prove wrong. A physician tells lies if his medicine takes away the life of a patient. A poet does not tell lies because he confirms nothing. Sidney adds that a historian can tell lies because in his quest to find out the events that took place in the past, he has to confirm many things. But a poet does not try to convey what is true or what is false. A poet only tries to assert that what can be and what can't be.
Poetry is not a Nurse of Abuse
After repelling the second charge against poetry, Sidney turns to the third one to debunk its false associations. The third accusation claims that poetry is the nurse of abuse in society. The sexual conceits in Comedy corrupt the morally clean side of man. And love in a lyric increases the passion of love. Sidney adds that including the passion of love in a love poem is not a sin. Also, the insertion of lustful material does not make poetry responsible for the corruption of the mind. Sidney tries to wind up his point by saying that it is not poetry that corrupts the mind of a reader but there are some (immoral) poets who corrupt poetry. He further explains his point by performing a comparison between poetry and painting. If a painting contains Abraham sacrificing his son Isaac, the painting will be pleasing for the ones who will look at it. Similarly, if a painter portrays an immoral scene then the painting will look disgusting to its on-lookers.
Plato's Banishment of Poets not Poetry
The fourth comment that comes by Gosson is the weightiest one that Sidney answers by putting strong arguments in favour of poetry. Gosson accepts Plato's banishment of poets and considers it right to banish all the poets of the contemporary era. Sidney answers that Plato did not condemn poetry as his own writings were mostly poetic in style. Plato should not have accused poetry for being immoral because his own ideal Republic was immoral. What Plato hated in poetry was the sexual portrayal of their gods and other shortcomings like the ones found within the people of that era. Sidney also proves that Plato did not banish poetry from his Republic. He stood against the misuse of poetry and suggested banishment of the very abuse. He was not an enemy of the poets as is commonly referred to.
Some Limitations
Sidney's defence of poetry is a significant milestone in the Elizabethan era but some of his assertions are not true and are exaggerated. At first, he claims that poetry is the most suitable form of learning that puts other subjects to shame. Surely, poetry has its significant share in Arts but calling it a most profound source of knowledge is somewhat unjust. Because even in our modern time, poetry derives its essence from history, science as well as social surroundings.
Another instance of shortcoming in his poetry is rather a strong one. He asserts that poetry is the finest form of truth. It is a well-established truth that poetry or any other form of literature is not exempted from fiction or something that is not real and true. But calling astronomers and physicians liers is his great weakness of understanding. What he is calling lies is the hypothesis that leads to modern scientific discoveries.
Also, Sidney says that it is the poet who corrupts poetry. But the fact remains the same as poetry and even other forms of writings are not free from the amorous display of life.
Conclusion
Lastly, Sidney concludes his debate by saying that poetry is a "delightful teaching". Sidney accepts the element of delight in poetry but phrasing a didactic purpose to an artistic genre takes away the artistic appeal from it. Poetry should propose moral virtues but those virtues should not be overshadowed by the bliss of meter, rhyme and melody.
Sources and Suggested Readings
- Current Notes - Page 125
- https://sites.udel.edu/britlitwiki/sidneys-defense-of-poesy/
