Matthew Arnold was known to be two different people when it came to his poetry versus his life; 'poet and censor'. Matthew Arnold wasn't all that determined to succeed. He just loved the art of poetry. Arnold never saw poetry as a profession. Without a mother figure or siblings, having only his father to lean on, Matthew saw poetry as just a simple hobby. Little did he know that there were bigger things to come from his “simple hobby.” He was said to be an honorable gentleman. Further proof of the famous phrase: “I have come. I saw. I won." Arnold was a role model, a leader, and a uniquely iconic being beyond measure. Matthew Arnold was a misunderstood person who faced many obstacles in his family and against the public, which led him to struggle academically and ethnically to become a successful poet and, in general, a great person. Arnold's birth took the world by surprise. He was born in Victorian times on December 24, 1822 , in the United Kingdom. Well before childhood, Matthew's mother disappeared from his life for unknown reasons. With no siblings in his family, Matthew Arnold had only his father to lean on. Thomas Arnold was an English educator and historian always finding himself attached to his father. They spent a year in Winchester when Matthew met and discovered his love of poetry. Although poetry was just a hobby at the time, he believed he would be great at whatever he did, whether it was poetry or less (Thorpe; chap. 1). Arnold's poetic life was an important hobby for him, but his education was even more so. essential. He attended and graduated first from Balliol College. He subsequently attended and graduated from Rugby School at 18...halfway there...tired of finding himself. He walks forward confused. He becomes worried longing for relief. The stars began to look more and more beautiful. He looks to God by confessing his desire to be like him. The stars shine in the night. People realize who their creator is. He cries out for salvation in his heart. It is then that he realizes that, soon enough, God will take away the pain (poemhunter.com) Work Cited Alexander, Edward. Matthew Arnold and John Stuart Mill. New York. Columbia University Press, 1965. Buckley, Vincent. “Poetry as religion”. Poetry and mortality. Eliot. Leaves. London. Clarke, Irwin & Co., 1959 Morality. Matteo Arnoldo. May 6th. 2001. Self-Dependence. Matteo Arnoldo. May 6th. 2001. Thorpe, Michael. Matthew Arnold: literary criticism. New York. ARCO Publishing Company, 1971.