Poe's Philosophy of Beauty
by Robert W. Watson
(22 April 1999)

The greatest myth promulgated in modern times is that beauty is in the eye of the beholder. While on the one hand art and music are at the mercy of a materialistic determinism (modernism), the arts become non-existent on the other, because a painting by Monet would be no better than a teenager's graffiti on the wall of a subway (postmodernism). As modern philosophers wrangle over the definition of art, most people instinctively believe that art is connected with whatever is beautiful. What the philosophers fail to understand is that beauty is not a quality; therefore, it falls outside of the realm of the intellect, thereby defying logic and making most philosophical conclusions about art hopelessly deficient. Beauty is an effect that touches the emotions; thus, art is an experience that affects the soul, not an argument that satisfies the mind.

According to the Hebrews, to whom the West must turn for its ideas, the expression of art is the soul striving for perfection, even though this perfection is unattainable in this present world. Of course, this definition presupposes that souls exist and that absolute perfection equally exists. For this reason, sensitive souls have not only tried to preserve the beautiful found in their cultures, but have appreciated the beautiful both in the past and in the present. The source of beauty is God as manifested in His creation. Therefore, the artist does not create in the sense of producing anything ex nihilo, but duplicates that which is already perfect. Whenever the artist paints a landscape, the poet writes a poem, or the composer creates a concerto, he attempts to capture an experience that is beautiful with existing colors, words, or sounds, hoping to suspend the experience in time. The artist, poet, or composer will be successful only if he expresses well the sublimity of the moment. No painter can improve upon the colors of a sunset or a rainbow; nor can the composer improve upon the notes of the musical scale. For this reason, the key phrase for legitimate art is imitation of nature.

Whenever I think about the Beautiful, I think about Edgar Allan Poe. However, as I consider writing about Poe, I become embarrassed by the immense amount of excellent material produced by this man. Poe excels equally as a poet, as a storyteller, and as a literary critic. Poe's writings, particularly his poems, appeal to those who feel deeply about life--not with the mind or with the heart, but with the soul. Poe's poetry requires the reader to consider the Beautiful. Whether drawn by the rhythm, the words, or the subject expressed, the soul of the sensitive reader becomes aware that something beautiful is happening in Poe's poetry. Indeed, Poe discusses this awareness of Beauty in his essay, "The Philosophy of Composition," where he reveals the domain, the tone, and the topic of Beauty.

Regarding literature, Beauty's domain is poetry. Poetry speaks to the soul and thus belongs to the realm of art. The only justification for poetry is that it fulfills a purpose that prose is unable to do. Poe points out that "effects should be made to spring from direct causes--that objects should be attained through means best adapted for their attainment." If the goal is to enlighten the mind with Truth, then the writer should use prose, because Truth requires precision. Likewise, if the goal is to raise the passions of the heart, then prose is the better vehicle. But to elevate the soul, poetry is necessary. Spiritually speaking, since the soul is the seat of our emotions, how we react to Beauty reveals the state of our souls. The redeemed soul recognizes that Beauty inspires true worship and holiness (Psalm 29:2).

Next, Beauty's tone is sadness. Poe argues that "Beauty of whatever kind in its supreme development invariably excites the sensitive soul to tears." While joy and laughter can cause tears, sadness almost always does so. For most of us, we think it strange to connect sadness with Beauty. However, if we remember that Beauty is an effect, not a quality, then we can easily see the connection. Profound sadness affects the soul like no other emotion. I know of a young man whose brother was a diabetic. One night, this young man cried himself to sleep because his brother could no longer eat any ice cream. We may think this silly, but to this young sensitive soul, this was a great sadness. The result of these tears was the perfecting of a soul that before had a bent towards selfishness. He ensured that he never ate any ice cream in the presence of his brother, nor did he allow others to do so as well. In Housman's poem, "Terence, This is Stupid Stuff," Terence's friends accuses the young poet of killing them with his poetry "before their time / Moping melancholy mad." Terence replies to his friends that even though his poetry may be sad, the poetry has inoculated them against the coming heartbreaks and "embittered" hours. Yes, sadness helps perfect the soul. Indeed, a man is not too far from the kingdom of God whenever he becomes contrite and sorrowful for offending his heavenly Father.

Finally, Beauty's topic is death. Referring to his "Raven," Poe asks himself what is the most melancholy of subjects. Poe concludes that it is death and that it is most poetical when connected with Beauty. Then he adds, "the death then of a beautiful woman is unquestionably the most poetic topic in the world." If the idea that Beauty is associated with sadness appears strange, then certainly Beauty's association with death may seem even stranger. A soldier who sees death on the battlefield, or nurses and doctors who witness death daily may fail to see what is so beautiful about death. But, once again, if Beauty is an effect, what then hastens a soul towards perfection faster than the contemplation of death? Perhaps one of the most beautiful passages of poetry ever written is found in the Bible, Isaiah chapter 53. While "there is no beauty that we should desire him" (a quality), we reflect deeply concerning the sorrow of the Savior and his rejection by men (an effect). Thinking about the death of Christ on the cross moves the sensitive soul who has been touched by the Holy Spirit. Yes, the old rugged cross has a "wondrous attraction" for many.

According to Poe, Beauty takes place whenever souls experience poetry that centers on the sorrows connected with death. Poe's philosophy of Beauty provides some insight into why death holds a universal fascination with mankind. Men are restless souls who are trying to find meaning and Beauty in life. Ironically, in order to find life, the soul must die to self. True perfecting of the soul comes by reading and by obeying the Scriptures. Then will the perfected soul contemplate "Zion, the perfection of beauty," while worshipping the Lord "in the beauty of holiness."