This collection of essays explores the connections between art, criticism, and the human experience. Eli Siegel, founder of the philosophy of Aesthetic Realism, argues that the principles which make a work of art beautiful are the same principles that make people and life itself beautiful. Delving into the works of Shakespeare, Keats, and other masters, Siegel sheds light on the nature of creativity and its relationship to our deepest longing for meaning and fulfillment. This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.