Edward Dowden
Edward Dowden (1843-1913) was an influential Irish literary scholar, poet, and educator, best known for his contributions to Shakespearean criticism and his biography of Percy Bysshe Shelley. Born in Mentenotte, Cork, he pursued his education at Queen's College and Trinity College Dublin, where he excelled academically, earning numerous honors. Dowden began his teaching career at Alexandra College before becoming the first chair of English literature at Trinity College, where he remained for most of his life. His seminal work, *Shakspere: A Critical Study of His Mind and Art* (1875), is noted for its psychological approach and was a significant text in Shakespeare studies.
Throughout his career, Dowden engaged with prominent literary figures, befriending American poet Walt Whitman and John Butler Yeats, who regarded him primarily as a poet. However, Dowden's focus shifted toward academic pursuits, particularly as he sought to provide for his family following personal losses. His neutral stance in his biography of Shelley sparked controversy among contemporary critics who expected a more moralistic tone. Despite being a controversial figure due to his opposition to Irish nationalism, Dowden's legacy is primarily rooted in his scholarly achievements, earning several honorary degrees and serving in various educational and cultural institutions. His work continues to influence literary criticism and scholarship today.
On this Page
Subject Terms
Edward Dowden
Critic
- Born: May 3, 1843
- Birthplace: Mentenotte, Cork, Ireland
- Died: April 4, 1913
Biography
Edward Dowden was born May 3, 1843, at Mentenotte, a suburb of Cork, Ireland. He was the fourth child of John Wheeler Dowden, a merchant, and Alicia Bennett Dowden. During his youth, he was privately educated and often visited the Cork Public Library. He attended Queen’s College in Cork before enrolling at Trinity College in Dublin. He received his B.A. in 1863 and his M.A. in 1867.
In 1866, he married Mary Clerke, with whom he had three children, and taught at Alexandra College in Dublin. The following year, he accepted a position as the first chair of English literature, beginning his long career at Trinity College. He published his first book, Shakspere: A Critical Study of His Mind and Art, in 1875. In this book, which was highly received by critics, Dowden took a novel psychological approach. The book was an eminent text in Shakespeare criticism in its day and remains influential.
Although he published a book of poems in 1876, he turned away from poetry toward academic pursuits in order to support his family. He befriended the American poet Walt Whitman and John Butler Yeats, father of the Irish poet William Butler Yeats. John Butler Yeats considered Dowden above all a poet, and was saddened by the professional direction of Dowden’s life. In 1886, he published a two-volume biography of Percy Bysshe Shelley. In this biography, Dowden strived for a neutral tone, angering those Victorian critics who thought he should have taken a moralistic stance.
Dowden’s wife died in 1892, and in 1895, he married Elizabeth Dickinson West, an old friend. He remained at Trinity College until he died of bronchial problems in 1913. After his death, his second wife published his final book, A Woman’s Reliquary, a collection of love lyrics.
While a college student at Trinity, Dowden received the Wray Prize in metaphysical studies, a first-class moderatorship in logic and ethics, and the vice chancellor’s prize in English verse and prose composition. During his career, he served as trustee of the Irish National Library, commissioner of Education, secretary of the Irish Liberal Union, and vice president of the Irish Unionist Alliance. His honorary degrees included the LL.D. from the University of Edinburgh and Princeton University, the D.C.L. from Oxford University, and the D.Litt. from Cambridge University.
Although Edward Dowden lived in Dublin for most of his life, he opposed Irish Nationalism, making him a controversial figure. His refusal to take a moral stand in his biography of Shelley provoked controversy as well. During his time, his friend John Butler Yeats considered him a poet, yet his place in history rests in his scholarship, especially his work on William Shakespeare.