refuses the notion of the State controlling individual wills in the name of an interest wider than that of individuals reacts on Carlyle's idea of giving rule to the aristocracy: chooses and analyses one representative member of the aristocracy, of the middle class, and of the working class but none of them proves to be capable to defend a man against anarchy this may result in rough and coarse actions performed without thinking, i.e. the central idea of English life and politics is the assertion of personal liberty to make reason and the will of God prevail 'Doing as one Likes' => aim: to diffuse sweetness and light, i.e. the pursuit of perfection = the pursuit of 'sweetness and light' in inward condition of the mind and spirit and not in an outward set of circumstances the perfection consists in becoming something rather than in having something, i.e.

culture = study of perfection, which is total, general (i.e. Puritanism was however imperfect in offering a rather discouraging depiction of the worldly life Culture Puritanism: one of the reasons why the British are the most culturized nation more important than poetry, because it pursuits perfection on a broader scale Philistines: devote their lives to the idea of becoming wealthy Religion wealth: mere machinery, and machinery should not be overestimated, a common failure of perceiving the machinery not as a means but as an end (b) social motives = passion for doing good Wealth (a) to render an intelligent being yet more intelligent (curiosity to see things as they are) = scientific passion motives for studying and for being culturized: the 'culture' of mechanic learning of Latin and Greek cannot be considered culture (Arnold himself experienced this at Oxford) defines culture = the pursuit of total perfection 'Sweetness and Light' Study warns against the dangers of cramming and racing little boys for competitive examinations the aim of the essay: to recommend culture as the great help out of the present difficulties to religious works, and allusions to newspapers

points out some of the ideas of the following essay and explains some references, esp.

Matthew arnold anarchy