초록 열기/닫기 버튼
This study elaborates on “Ode to Psyche” to alter the still popular misconception of John Keats as a faint-hearted poet exemplifying effeminate characteristics. The poem indicates his misinterpreted (male) gender politics. This study, therefore, demonstrates that (the persona of) the poet could seem to be rather effeminate and unmanly, but his superficial effort may only be an effective stratagem to construct his manoeuvre to fulfill his possessive desire of a goddess, Psyche. Keats' obsessive preoccupation with self and identity, which appears in the poem, is an essential process for the composition of his poetry and self-affirmation. In this respect, “Ode to Psyche” can be a true ode insofar as it becomes a celebration. However, the completion of his love with Psyche leads to his cruel consumption of her. Psyche as a woman/goddess is regarded as an eroticized object whose existence only obtains meaning through the grace of his absolute power. She is denied her voice and is deprived of all her autonomy as a goddess. Based on the poetic strategy of using an echo of an ancient mystery celebration and shaping a female into his ideal alter ego, Keats fulfills his poetic independence.
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John Keats, Desire, Appropriation, Independence, Eroticism
