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Lamia There is no doubt that Keats attitude towards Lamia is very sympathetic. Of course, we only gradually get to come to this conclusion, as we read Keats poem. At the beginning, it seems that Keats does not have any warm feelings towards her, because Lamias appearance is quite scary: Her head was serpent, but ah, bitter-sweet! She had a woman's mouth with all its pearls complete It is not by a pure chance that Lamia is described by Keats as having snakes head. It appears that Keats wanted to link Lamias physical appearance with her essence as living being.
One of Lamias most prominent psychological traits is her deceitfulness. While being critical towards deceitful people, Keats does not necessarily consider them as being evil. In fact, it is quite natural for the woman to be deceitful; this is why author does not resort to moralization's, while discussing Lamia. She is represented to us as someone in search of its own destiny. Lamia does not seem to realize that she looks abnormal, because she was not allowed to leave prison. Therefore, she did not have any real life experiences, which would allow her sense of right and wrong to be based on principles of conventional morality.
Thus, even though that Keats assumes a posture of unengaged observer, while describing Lamia, he encourages us to feel sorry for her, which proves that he is sympathetic towards her. As we read poem further, authors attitude towards Lamia shifts to be more and more admirable. We get to realize that for Keats, Lamia represents the essence of womanhood's virtues. These virtues, according to Keats, cannot be rationalized. Some of them might even appall us. However, they derive out of depths of female psyche and this is why we cannot be judgmental towards her.
The anomalistic side in women is more developed than in men, because they always remain plunged into the emotional realm of sex and procreation. Thus, it is absolutely natural for women to be irrational and to have their social behavior being adjusted to their intuitive desires. Keats was not a Christian; this is why concepts of good and evil in his poem have a relative nature. It appears that, in Lamia, author associated good with naturalness. Lamia is able to win Lycius love, because her act is spontaneous and sincere: Thus gentle Lamia judg'd, and judg'd aright, That Lycius could not love in half a fright, So threw the goddess off, and won his heart More pleasantly by playing woman's part She might lack the understanding of social ethics, but as poem shows, the essence of these ethics is artificial. Since the ancient times, serpent was associated with rebirth and fertility.
Therefore, it appears that Lamias appearance contains a philosophical message. Author thought of his heroine as someone, who represents peoples strive to love and to live, despite the impossible odds. Thus, it is quite impossible for us to think of Lamia with disdain. Author leaves no doubt, in this regard, which proves that he was a truly progressive individual. His main task was to destroy the myth of women being responsible for mens misfortunes, which is being promoted by the Christians. Lamia dreams of womans conventional happiness.
She wants to love and to be loved. She wants to have children and to be just like everybody else. It is only when this happiness is being denied to her, that she becomes revengeful. Still, her motivations to cause harm to people are described by the author as being absolutely valid. This is why, even though that it might seem that Keats judges Lamia, his true purpose was to convince readers in something opposite - she just a victim of circumstances, who is being denied of many things that normal people take for granted. We cannot judge a man who steals a loaf or bread to feed his starving family.
It is also impossible for us to despise Lamia, because her misfortunes fell on her un deservingly. Keats did a very good job, while convincing readers in soundness of this statement. Bibliography: Keats, John Lamia. 1999. Sparks Eserver. 12 May. 2007.
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