Apology for Criticism

Admittedly, I've been feeling incredibly bitter towards the subject of criticism and critics of all categories in the last week... a condition that was probably brought on by the density of Frye and complemented by the criticism of films in my MTA class and the incessant picking apart of literature in my other survey classes for english lit. Reading Sidney's "Apology for Poetry" has been a complete relief in light of all this criticism, to encounter some literature that holds poetry up for it's beauty regardless of symbols, tones, genres, etc- "art for art's sake"-this is the attitude I want to uphold in regards to literature, the attitude of of Shelley.
However, I came across a passage today in Frye that struck me for it's convincing argument for criticism- so convincing that I had sort one of those lightbulb moments where it all came together: This is why criticism is so important!
It happened on Page 87 in the theory of symbols essay. Citing the example of the Bible as the inevitability of a sacred book and commentary on it's contents, Frye asserts that "when a poetic structure attains a certain degree of concentration or social recognition, the amount of commentary (read: criticism) that it will attain is infinite" (Frye 88). The analogies that follow to explain the inevitability and need for the critic, such as that of the scientist who is able to make theories about phenomenas in the universe that he cannot see or count, gave me the insight i needed to grasp this idea: "there is no occasion for wondering... how one small poet's head can carry the amount of wit, wisdom, instruction, and significance that Shakespeare and Dante have given the world" (Frye 88). And just like that I can't debate the relevance of criticism any more. As the poet's words, however beautiful they may be, are open to infinite interpretations and reactions, there is a case for criticism.