Beyond Idealism and Escapism: Jungian Analytical Insights into Keats' Poetic Personae

Abstract

John Keats, a celebrated figure among the English Romantic Poets of the 19th century, is often characterized as a poet of escapism or an unfulfilled genius. However, these binary positions overlook the profound wisdom embedded in his poetry. Keats' works, particularly his renowned odes, encapsulate Romantic ideals, celebrating emotions, imaginative experience, and nature's beauty, while grappling with human suffering and the fleeting nature of life. This article challenges the above-mentioned dichotomous views by applying a Jungian archetypal analysis to Keats' poetry. It explores Keats as a holistic poet whose poetry bridges conscious and unconscious realms, intuition, emotion, and imagination. After examining the historical reception of Keats' poetry, this study uses Jungian archetypal perspective to conduct a close reading of Keats' poems, and concludes by emphasizing how this perspective enhances our understanding of Keats in the context of psychic health and holistic living. Keats emerges as a poet who offers profound psychological insights and guides us towards a more complete understanding of the human psyche and existence.