Beauty describes the combination of qualities that give pleasure to
observe or the personal attraction in certain features.
It expresses
imagination and creativity; it communicates both powerful and
sophisticated ideas in works of art. The theme itself is
multidimensional and breaks down into different categories:
scientific, visual, and internal beauty. For example, in Isaac
Asimov's essay,
Science and Beauty, the author explains the
significance of scientific matter to the general public. When he
states, "Nor can we know or imagine how the limitless beauty yet to
be revealed in the future by science", Asimov
suggests that science is
the key to eternal beauty (313). The essay reinforces the
understanding that beauty cannot be separated from the nature of
science, it should stay intact and be considered, universal. For
example, when Asimov inquires, “Should I stare at a single
leaf and remain ignorant of the forest?” he relates the theme to space
exploration and suggests that one should look at beauty with greater
depth (311). These examples expose beauty scientifically.
Internal beauty is an important branch of the theme that appears in
Alfred Tennyson’s poem, The Lady of Shalott. The poet is famous for the
majestic and musical quality in his verse that reveals beauty. For
example, in the lines, “She has a lovely face; God in his mercy lend
her grace, the lady of Shalott”, Sir Lancelot expresses the natural
outer beauty of the lady (168-170). However, the lady in the poem feels
“sick of Shadows” (70), because she envies all the residents of Camelot
and spends time weaving every night. In my opinion, this poem is
representative of the greatest challenge that faces professional
writers and artists alike: to produce a poem or an art work that
conveys beauty in its simplest forms. In conclusion, beauty is a
broad theme composed of categories which are expressed and play crucial
roles in the poem Lady of Shalott and literary essay Science and Beauty.