In the last stanza of “Dover Beach,” when Arnold describes two “ignorant armies” (37) in a world full of pain, this is the scene that comes to mind. A brutal battle of unknown motives that will inevitably end with death. This scene seems to bring out an image of the worst in this world from the depths of the readers mind. Perhaps this was Arnolds method to strengthen his message to the reader.

The image itself is of a dark and gloomy sea shrouded by clouds with a shaft of light from the sun reaching through an open patch of clouds. This image relates to the extended metaphor that is found within “Dover Beach.” The dark colours of the image represent death and therefore a dwindling sea, whilst the small shaft of light that reaches through the clouds represents faith; belief in a higher power. However, the clouds surrounding the shaft of light will eventually move in and block out the light – or faith- and the sea will return to darkness once again. Ultimately, the picture creates an image of dwindling faith within the beholders mind, similar to how Matthew Arnold achieves this through his imagery.