The Victorian period of British literature involved many changes in British culture; One of the defining characteristics of Queen Victoria's reign was the loss of faith in the Church. A number of social changes have caused increasing numbers of people to question their faith and abandon organized religion, leading to increasingly frequent "crises of faith" among the population. English poet Matthew Arnold's "Stanzas of the Chartreuse" best illustrates the many crises of faith experienced by the English during the Victorian era through Arnold's use of description and metaphor. “Stances de la Grande Chartreuse” takes place in a monastery in the French Alps. Arnold's work describes the crisis of faith he is going through. Arnold does not return to the monastery to regain his lost faith in Christianity; rather, he chooses to write about his struggle with any type of faith. Throughout the poem he makes it clear that he will not and cannot return to the Christian Church. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essay Upon entering the monastery, Arnold begins to reminisce about his youth and his eventual crisis of faith. He recalls how “rigorous teachers took hold of [his] youth” (67) and indoctrinated him into the Christian faith. Arnold hears his former teachers speaking to him in the monastery. They asked him: “What are you doing in this living tomb? » (72). The reason for Arnold's visit to the monastery is questioned. Matthew answers this question in the lines following the investigation. In his response, Arnold first asks forgiveness for visiting the monastery; he writes: “Forgive me, Masters of the Spirit! At whose request I have long since so unlearned and so resigned – I do not come here to be your enemy” (73-76). Arnold asks the great minds of the Victorian era for forgiveness. For Arnold, men and women like Charles Lyell, the author of Principles of Geology, defeated the idea that religion is necessary to explain the world. These writers “persuaded Arnold that faith in Christianity was no longer tenable in the modern world” (Norton 1390). Arnold thinks he is offending these men by being at the monastery. This shows that Arnold holds these intellectuals in higher esteem than the Christian God he once believed in. He claims he is no longer a Christian. Arnold is a visitor to the monastery as one would be to “a few fallen runestones” (83). He visits the monastery as a historical place, like an old Nordic monument representing a now dead religion (Norton 1390). Speaking of Christianity and the Norse religion, Arnold writes: “For both were religions, and both have passed away” (84). Arnold believes that Christianity is coming to an end and will soon be considered like any other ancient religion, such as the Norse religion. Arnold later writes that he is with “the last of those who believe” (112). Arnold makes it clear that this is not a journey to restore his lost faith; he is there to visit a part of history that no longer has any control over him. At the monastery, Arnold finds himself “wandering between two worlds, one dead, the other powerless to be born, without yet where to lay his head” (85-87). The old age of Christianity (and similar organized religions) is over, but Arnold is unable to define his faith, or lack thereof, as a particular belief system. The new age of reason remains to be defined and named; he is not yet born. Until the birth of the new system, Arnold seeks to be part of somethingthing. He will not return to his old Christian ways, so he must “wander” (85) until the new system is born. Arnold suffers from not being part of the Christian faith. He describes his suffering as “sacred pain” (92). Many think that pain "is an outdated fashion, an outdated theme" (100), but Arnold's pain is "[agitated]" (104). If the pain is not alleviated, Arnold would prefer to die with the last of the surviving Christians (109-111). Death is preferable to Arnold's painful wandering between two worlds. Even after death, this pain persists. Other men have felt such pain and it lingers long after their death. Arnold writes: “Say, is life lighter now than before? The sick are dead, they have left their pains – The pains that tortured them remain” (130-132). Generations of men have gone through the transition that Arnold is going through now, but have not resolved anything in their lifetime. Arnold also references the romantics during his visit to the monastery. It refers specifically to Byron (133) and Shelley (139). Arnold believes that their works, while beautiful, did little to ease this pain felt by many. For Arnold, Byron simply shared his “bleeding heart” (136) and “Europe made his misfortune its own” (138). Future generations will read the works of Byron and Shelley, but Arnold wonders if "the heirs of [their] distress have restless hearts that beat less?" » (143-144). Romanticism is dead and its writers “sleep in [their] silent tombs” (151). Writing further to the Romantics, Arnold asserts: “The world, which lay dormant for a day thanks to your mood of sadness, has long cast out its weeds… But we have learned your knowledge too well” (149–156). After the death of Romanticism, the world moved on, but many people continued to read the Romantics, trapped in a state of suffering. Byron, Shelley, and the other romantics share similar feelings with Arnold, but this does not help Arnold escape the pain. The romantics described suffering, but did little to combat it. Although Arnold found their works beautiful and worthy of praise, the Romantics did nothing to alleviate man's suffering. Arnold then describes and then describes again the waiting process. He doesn't know how this will happen before the new age begins. He believes that “in a few years, perhaps, a happier century will come, alas! That we, who without harshness will be wise, and cheerful without frivolity” (157-160). Arnold knows the process could be long and he calls on younger generations to make changes quickly; he writes: “Son of the world, oh, speed up these years; But in the meantime, allow our tears! (161-162). Arnold needs to suffer and asks permission to cry while he waits for change to come. Arnold, as he wanders in suffering, admires those who find tranquility in religious beliefs. He does not seek to end Christianity or any other religion, but rather writes: “Allow them! We admire with fear The exultant thunder of your race; You give the universe your law, You triumph over time and space! (163-166). Arnold admires religious people because they believe they have control over the universe. Arnold wishes he could live that way, but he can't go back. Arnold tells them: “Your pride in life, your indefatigable powers, we praise, but they are not ours” (167-168). He praises those who are strongly religious, but they live a lifestyle to which he cannot return. Even if he doesn't believe, he doesn't disrespect those who do. Arnold continues his writing with a.