My demon poesy : the portrayal of women in the poetry of John Keats

Abstract

The aim of this study is to examine the complexity in which the Romantic poet, John Keats, perceived and depicted women. The poet's life was racked by disappointment, illness and bereavement, so it is unsurprising that his approach towards women was tainted by his harsh personal circumstances. The introductory chapter provides some general information on Keat's life, with particular emphasis on his membership within the Cockney School of Poetry and how this, coupled with his social status, resulted in his works receiving negative feedback during his time. This leads to a discussion on Keats' self-doubt which tortured him throughout his poetic career. The following chapter discusses Keats? portrayal of women as goddesses. While Keats venerates the deities he creates, he also shows that they are the cause of pain to the dreamers in Endymion and The Fall of Hyperion: A Dream. The goddess in Ode to Psyche is the poet's inspiration, yet she is portrayed as a divine being rejected by her contemporaries. Subsequently the representation of women in a medieval setting is analysed, with reference to Isabella and Madeline. These figures are commonly perceived as victims of a patriarchal society yet their actions partly determine their own fate, which leads one to question whether they are to blame for their circumstances. Keats had a complicated attitude towards women, so it is fitting that he would not view them merely as victims, but blames them for the suffering of males. The next chapter deals with the depiction of women as deceptive seductresses, in which the female characters in Lamia and La Belle Dame sans Merci are discussed. Analysis of these poems shows that Keats does not depict women as either inherently good or evil, but as complex beings. To conclude, Keats' relationship with Fanny Brawne will be discussed as the culmination of his perception of women. While Keats loved his fiancée extensively, their engagement was rife with jealousy and suspicion.