The artist usually sets out -- or used to -- to point a moral and adorn a tale. The tale, however, points the other way, as a rule. Two blankly opposing morals, the artist's and the tale's. Never trust the artist. Trust the tale. The proper functions of a critic is to save the tale from the artist who created it.
The artist traditionally aims to convey a moral lesson through their work, intending to elevate the narrative with their insights. However, often the story itself presents an alternative perspective that contradicts the artist's intentions. This dynamic results in a conflict between the moral that the artist tries to establish and the one that the tale inherently reveals.
D.H. Lawrence suggests that one should be cautious of the artist's interpretation and instead focus on the narrative itself. He posits that critics have a crucial role in preserving the integrity of the story, ensuring that the genuine message is not overshadowed by the artist's personal moralizing. The essence of the tale may hold more truth than what the artist intends to communicate.
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All the things you can talk about in anyone's work are the things that are least important.
Race of Cain, ascend to heaven, And cast God down upon the earth!
