"The Decay of Sentiment" by Agnes Repplier explores the decline of emotional expression and sentimentality in modern society. Repplier critiques the shift from a time when emotions were openly expressed and celebrated to an era where sentiment is viewed with skepticism and often dismissed as insincere or excessive. She contrasts the past, where figures like Sir Walter Scott and others were deeply moved by history, literature, and personal experiences, with the present, where such emotional responses are rare and often ridiculed. Repplier laments the loss of genuine emotional engagement, suggesting that the complexity of modern thought has led to a detachment from the simple, heartfelt sentiments that once enriched human experience. She argues that while past generations may have indulged in sentimentality, they also possessed a depth of feeling that is lacking in contemporary society. The essay reflects on how historical figures and literary characters once inspired profound emotional reactions, which are now replaced by a more analytical and less passionate approach to life and art. Repplier's work is a call to recognize the value of sentiment and to reconsider the role of emotion in a world increasingly dominated by rationality and skepticism.
By Agnes Repplier · First published 1907 · Genre: Literary Criticism, Essay, Satire