Sidney Defending Poetry

The Defense of Poesy

On Not Defending Poetry

Sidney's Defence of Poesy--the foundational text of English poetics--is generally taken to present a model of poetry as ideal: the poet depicts ideals of human conduct and readers are inspired to imitate them. Catherine Bates sets out to challenge this received view. Attending very closely to Sidney's text, she identifies within it a model of poetry that is markedly at variance from the one presumed, and shows Sidney's text to be feeling its way toward a quite different--indeed, a de-idealist--poetics. Following key theorists of the new economic criticism, On Not Defending Poetry shows how idealist poetics, like the idealist philosophy on which it draws, is complicit with the money form and with the specific ills that attend upon it: among them, commodification, fetishism, and the abuse of power. Against culturally approved models of poetry as profitable--as benefiting the individual and the state, as providing (in the form of intellectual, moral, and social capital) a quantifiable yield--the Defence reveals an unexpected counter-argument: one in which poetry is modelled, rather, as pure expenditure, a free gift, a net loss. Where a supposedly idealist Defence sits oddly with Sidney's literary writings--which depict human behaviour that is very far from ideal--a de-idealist Defence does not. In its radical reading of the Defence, this book thus makes a decisive intervention in the field of early modern studies, while raising larger questions about a culture determined to quantify the 'value' of the humanities and to defend the arts on those grounds alone.

A Defence of Poesie and Poems

In "A Defence of Poesie and Poems," Philip Sidney articulates a compelling argument for the significance of poetry in society, positioning it as a supreme form of human expression. Written in a classical style infused with the fervor of the Renaissance, Sidney defends poetry against its detractors by emphasizing its moral and ethical purposes. The text intricately weaves personal anecdotes with rich literary analysis, blending elements of rhetorical flourish and philosophical inquiry, ultimately situating poetry as a foundational pillar of knowledge and virtue within European culture. Philip Sidney, a quintessential figure of the Elizabethan era, was not only a poet but also a soldier and courtier, deeply immersed in the political and cultural currents of his time. His personal experiences, particularly his struggles against the prevailing Puritanical views of poetry, informed his passionate advocacy for artistic expression. Sidney'Äôs background in law and his close ties to the royal court further enriched his perspective on the social ramifications of poetic endeavor, illuminating the multifaceted dimensions of creativity and its responsibilities. "A Defence of Poesie and Poems" is essential reading for anyone interested in the interplay of art and morality. Sidney's eloquent defense transcends his historical moment, inviting contemporary readers to reconsider the role of poetry in shaping ethical discourse and cultural identity. This text not only enhances our understanding of Renaissance literature but also serves as a timeless reflection on the transformative power of the poet's voice.