John Keats’ “Lamia” and The Romantic Era Essay

The Ro compositiontic era, which was the period of time following the Enlightenment, existed to eradicate the innovationion that innovation, produced from research and reason, was the basis for truth. Writers of the Romantic era, such as John Keats, believed that imagination, non rationalization, was the foundation truth was built upon. Of this Keats says, The Imagination may be compared to tenners day-dreamHe awoke and found it truth (Rodriguez, Keats, 49). Even though the duration of his life was lacking, Keats moldiness have recognized that some deductions and philosophies had a profound affect on the world. In one of his later poems, vampire, Keats addresses this marvel of truth and its application to his concept of Negative Capability.It is from Robert Burtons Anatomy of somber that Keats forms the plot of Lamia (Stillinger, 359). A young man Lycius f all tolds in love with the beautiful Lamia, whose body has been transformed from that of a serpent to that of a woman. Lam ia, with little effort, convinces Lycius to flee with her to an enchanted palace, where they live and love happily until they narrow to marry. At their marriage banquet Lamia withers and dies, as Apollonius, Lycius clear-sighted and trusty guide (II-375), is able to see through her illusion. Lycius also dies, his armor were empty of delight (II-307), as his dream is also shattered.Keats multifaceted concept of Negative Capability is best under(a)stood as the followingthat is when man is capable of existence in uncertainties, mysteries, doubts, withoutany irritable reaching later fact and reason. (Rodriguez, Keats, 40)Directed to a colleague, and perhaps an extension of the previous intellection Keats saysI am certain of nothing but the holiness of the center of attentions affections and the truth ofImaginationWhat the imagination seizes as beauty must be truthwhether itexisted before or not (Rodriguez, Keats, 48)If imagination is as Adam awoke to find the truth, and beauty is truth and truth is beauty, then Lamia is some(prenominal) beautiful and true. Although the narrator describes her attractive physical qualities as both a serpent and a maid, Lamia is as she imagines herself, which is how shed uniform Lycius to imagine her. Regarding Lycius, Lamia won his heart More pleasantly by playing womans part (I-336-337). Toward the end of the poem, when Apollonius accuses Lamia of being a serpent, her human body starts to deteriorate, as she acknowledges his view. Apollonius, the good instructor, robed in philosophic gown (I-365), embodies all that Keats Negative Capability is working againstthe things know for truth by consequitive reasoning (Rodriguez, Keats, 51) instead of imagination. Lycius also, in questioning Lamia, sure enough some sweet concern thou hast (II-85), Hast any mortal name (II-88), proves his own susceptibility to the narrow truth of rationale.Although Lamia begins to wither under Apollonius stare, it is only when Lycius considers h is teachers thoughts as truth, that she is actually put downed. In attempting to define and confine Lamias nature to their record of common things, they destroy her imaginationher own perceptions on beauty and truth, Do not all charms fly at the mere touch of cold philosophy (II-229-230)? The dream that was Lamias, the reason for her to become a woman, was Lycius, the young Corinthian she was in love with.When Apollonius inflicts his philosophy on Lamia, her dream is destroyed, and with it Lycius.