The 19th century was a dynamic period in British poetry. It was a time of transformation, with poets navigating Romanticism, Victorian sensibilities, and growing interest in the philosophies and cultures of the East. Amid this vibrant literary landscape, Edwin Arnold emerged as a unique figure. As a 19th Century British poet, Arnold bridged Western and Eastern traditions in ways that set him apart from his contemporaries. His most famous work, The Light of Asia, brought Buddhist thought into the consciousness of British readers. While not always ranked alongside giants like Tennyson, Browning, or Arnold (his namesake but no relation), Edwin Arnold’s contribution to British poetry remains significant, especially in its cross-cultural ambitions and spiritual introspection.
Edwin Arnold
Edwin Arnold was born in Gravesend, Kent, in 1832. His early academic promise led him to King’s School, Rochester, and then to University College, Oxford, where he excelled in Classics. These formative years exposed him to classical literature and laid the groundwork for his later poetic ambitions. His early poetic output reflected the classical influences of his education, but his experiences in India would later define his most important contributions as a British poet.
Career in India and Its Influence
Arnold joined the Indian Education Service and served as the principal of Deccan College in Poona (now Pune). During his time in India, he immersed himself in the language, culture, and religious traditions of the subcontinent. This exposure profoundly influenced his poetic voice. Unlike many other 19th Century British poets, Arnold did not merely observe Eastern cultures from a distance. He sought to understand and interpret them, translating their spiritual depth into the verse that would reach British audiences.
This first-hand engagement with Indian philosophy informed The Light of Asia (1879), a narrative poem that recounts the life and teachings of Prince Gautama Buddha. The work was a departure from conventional British poetry of the time. Rather than focusing on European themes of love, nature, or Christian morality, Arnold brought Eastern spirituality to the forefront.
The Light of Asia: A Cultural Milestone
The Light of Asia stands as Edwin Arnold’s most enduring contribution to British poetry. Structured as a verse biography, the poem explores the life of Siddhartha Gautama and his spiritual awakening. Written in blank verse, the poem is both lyrical and didactic. It served as an introduction to Buddhist philosophy for many Western readers, who were previously unfamiliar with its principles.
The poem’s success was immediate and widespread. It was translated into several languages and remained in print for decades. Arnold’s work was praised for its sensitivity, depth, and poetic beauty. It opened new doors for cross-cultural understanding and expanded the thematic possibilities of 19th Century British poetry. By focusing on a non-Western religious figure, Arnold broadened the scope of poetic subject matter, challenging the Eurocentric perspective that dominated the literary scene.
Comparative Context: Arnold and His Contemporaries
To understand Arnold’s place in British poetry, it is helpful to compare him with other poets of the 19th century. Alfred, Lord Tennyson, the Poet Laureate, was the most prominent voice of Victorian poetry. His works, like In Memoriam and The Charge of the Light Brigade, focused on grief, faith, and national identity. Tennyson’s themes were deeply rooted in Christian tradition and British nationalism.
Robert Browning, another key figure, explored the complexities of human psychology through dramatic monologues. His poems delved into morality, power, and personal struggle, often in a European historical context. Matthew Arnold, a cultural critic as well as a poet, addressed issues of faith, education, and society. His poem Dover Beach reflects existential doubt and loss of religious certainty.
Edwin Arnold, in contrast, directed his poetic lens toward the East. His interest in Eastern religions distinguished him from his contemporaries. While they wrestled with Christianity and Western philosophy, Arnold turned to Buddhism and Hinduism for inspiration. This choice made his work stand apart. He was not merely a British poet writing about exotic themes; he was a cultural interpreter striving for genuine understanding.
Other Works and Themes
Although The Light of Asia is his most celebrated work, Arnold wrote other poems and translations that reflect his enduring interest in Eastern thought. The Song Celestial (1885) is his poetic translation of the Bhagavad Gita, a seminal Hindu text. Arnold’s rendering captures the spiritual intensity of the original while making it accessible to British readers. The work was another effort to build a bridge between cultures through poetry.
In The Light of the World (1891), Arnold attempted to present the life and teachings of Jesus Christ in a similar format to his earlier work on Buddha. This poem, however, did not achieve the same acclaim. Critics found it less compelling, perhaps because it lacked the freshness and novelty of The Light of Asia.
Arnold’s thematic focus remained consistent: the search for truth, the nature of suffering, and the path to spiritual enlightenment. His verse is marked by sincerity and reverence, avoiding the irony and complexity found in Browning or the melancholy of Tennyson. Instead, Arnold offered clarity, moral purpose, and a global perspective.
Criticism and Legacy
Despite his popularity during his lifetime, Edwin Arnold’s reputation declined in the 20th century. Modernist critics dismissed his work as didactic and overly sentimental. His verse, while graceful, was not considered innovative in form or language. The rise of poets like T.S. Eliot and W.H. Auden, who favored fragmentation, ambiguity, and modern themes, left little room for Arnold’s spiritual clarity.
However, recent scholarship has begun to reevaluate Arnold’s role in British poetry. His cross-cultural efforts are now seen as pioneering. In an age of empire, Arnold attempted to foster understanding rather than domination. He treated Eastern traditions with respect and seriousness, which was rare among British intellectuals of the time.
Arnold’s work also holds significance in the broader history of global literature. He was among the first Western poets to explore Eastern spirituality not as an exotic novelty but as a legitimate source of wisdom. This approach prefigured the later interest in Eastern philosophy among writers and thinkers in the 20th century, such as Aldous Huxley and Alan Watts.
Conclusion
As a 19th Century British poet, Edwin Arnold carved out a distinctive niche. His engagement with Eastern religions, especially Buddhism and Hinduism, enriched British poetry and expanded its thematic reach. While he may not be counted among the canonical greats, his work remains important for its cultural sensitivity and philosophical depth.
In comparison with his contemporaries, Arnold pursued a different poetic path. Tennyson explored the crises of faith within Christianity, Browning delved into the moral struggles of Western individuals, and Matthew Arnold critiqued Victorian society. Edwin Arnold, meanwhile, turned Eastward, inviting British readers to contemplate the universal aspects of spiritual life through the lens of the Buddha and the Bhagavad Gita.
His poetry reflects the values of humility, compassion, and cross-cultural respect. In today’s increasingly interconnected world, these values are more relevant than ever. Revisiting Edwin Arnold allows us to see how British poetry of the 19th century was not a monolith but a diverse and evolving tradition, capable of embracing voices and visions beyond its borders.
Therefore, Edwin Arnold remains a vital figure in the study of 19th Century British poets. His work invites us to expand our literary horizons and recognize the global currents that have long shaped British poetry.
