Walter Pater

 

INTRODUCTION

Walter Horatio Pater flourished in the second half of the nineteenth century. This century was one which saw Arnold advocating, “Art for life’s sake” and Ruskin declaring that ‘morality and didacticism were an inextricable part of art’. However, Pater emphatically opposes the views and says that,

The work of great poets is not to teach lessons or enforce rules or even stimulate noble ends.

He was the pioneer of the Aesthetic movement which made a plea for the creation of beauty for it’s own sake.  It’s motto was ‘Art for art’s sake’. Pater echoed Dryden who believed that ‘ delight is the chief if not the only aim of poetry’. He placed importance on the ability of a work of art to place over its didactic content. He believed that the pleasing effect could be had if proper style is used to convey the sense. He believed that ‘the soul declares itself’ through ‘the shapes and gestures of body.’

HIS VIEWS ON LITERATURE

Pater’s literary criticism is extremely small in bulk. He divides the literature between two groups

·         Imaginative Literature

·         Unimaginative Literature

Pater begins his essay “Style” with the view that there is no essential difference between prose and poetry. The difference exists between imaginative and unimaginative literature. Imaginative literature is pure literature, which can move and captivate our hearts. It is full of aesthetic pleasure where as unimaginative literature such as books on science and theology is the literature of fact.

Since prose and poetry are two branches of imaginative literature, they are concerned with the expression of writer’s sense and vision. Both have no essential differences. Hence, that style is the best style which enables the writer to convey his vision exactly and truthfully.

HIS VIEWS AND CONCEPT OF STYLE

DICTION AND STYLE

To arrive at a great style the first step that a writer should take is to be careful in his selection of words. He should be aware of different shades of meaning the same word has and should use a word keeping this in mind. Pater believed that a prose writer should avoid false ornament and surplus ages.

That is, he should not use two words where  one is enough. Ornaments like figures of speech should be used only when absolutely necessary. For him the essence of art is not selection but rejection. He agrees with Schiller who says that, The artist is known by what he omits.

Pater’s advice to the artist was,

Say what you have to say in the simplest, the most direct and most exact manner possible.

He believed that each word has a sweet smell of its own and the use of every word should be justified.

COMPOSITION AND STYLE

Composition is an essential element of all art. By it Pater means that the sentences should follow logically and naturally.  Each sentence should fit into the other like bricks in a building. The end effect should be aesthetically satisfying. The artist should have an idea of the end in the beginning itself. Then only he can make a compact piece of work and avoid surplusage.

 The basic difference between composition and style is that composition is the mechanical side of writing and it requires mechanical correctness only. It depends on the mind only as it is just the combination of words, sentences and paragraphs. However, style brings into play both the mind and the soul. In style we find the genuine expression of an artist’s personality.

ROLE OF PERSONALITY

Hence the style of the writer greatly depends upon his personality. According to Pater even though a work may have unity of design and correct diction, it may still lack warmth, colour and perfume. This living touch can be provided only by the personality of the writer. By making a good use of his mind, a writer may reach us step by step but by his ‘soul’ or personality he overcomes us.

Pater admires Lamb’s style for his touch of friendship, warmth, love and care and also his deep sympathy for the weak and the oppressed. In the matter of style he considers Lamb next to Shakeshpeare on account of the sincere reflection of his personality in his essays. Lamb’s sympathy and affection bring us into close contact with his soul. And  Peter defining great art says,

 Good art depends upon the mind and great art depends upon the mind and the soul.

 Such art increases our sympathies, enables our mind and takes us near the glory of God.

 

IMPORTANCE OF CLARITY OF THOUGHT

Expression is the main aim of the writer and style is the way in which the artist uses words to express his thoughts. However the question of expressing his thoughts in a nice style arises only when the artist is clear in his thoughts. He should be clear about his subject first and then be worried about his language and style. If things are not clear in his mind then his expression will be  ordinary. The use of ornamental phrases and figures of speech without any clarity of thought is absurd.

CONCLUSION

Thus, Pater’s essay ‘On Style’ is not merely a treatment of qualities of good prose, it is also an explosion of his aesthetic creed and his principles of criticism. In this essay, while discussing diction, form and style, he also discusses the central problems of literary art.

Hence, Walter Pater  was a romantic impressionistic critic who did not judge literature according to rules and principles. He reached to a work of art and enjoyed it through recording his own impression. Therefore according to Pater, style reflects the author’s personality, his mood and mind. He agrees with De Quiency who says that,

Style is an incarnation of thought.