Extra Lamia notes
Written in the late summer and early autumn of 1819
Semantic fields of
Colour - blood, colours, scarlet, yellow, silver. sapphires, green, amethyst, golden
Moon - crescents, stars, moon, eclipsed
Heat - Hot, flashed phosphor, sharp sparks, inflamed, scarlet, lava
Madness - mouth foamed, eyes in torture fixed, writhed, convulsed
Sexual - ravishes, undressed, writhed, hot, body's grace
Unpretty, Imperfect - Spoilt, made gloom, ugliness
Vanishing - vanished, melted, disappeared, disolved, heard no more
Lamia is possible example of Negative Capability- transforming into mortal woman.
Keats appears to have seen this poem as an achievment; he commented that in contrast to the 'inexperience' and 'simplicity' of Isabella, there was 'no objection of this kind in Lamia'. The poem was published in 1820 and was the first poem in the volume (indicating that Keats considered it to be important).
Lamia as an allegory
> R.H Fogle commented that 'Lamia appears to lend itself to allegorial interpretation'.
> Garrett Stewart has remarked that the poem 'seems to invite allegorical reading'. In most cases the allegorical readings focus on the ways in which the three main characters in the poem, Lamia, Lycius and Apollonius may be said to represent something other than themselves.
Lamia
Fanny Brawne
Poetry
Poem
Illusion/Dream
Text
Lycius
Keats
Poet
Keats/Poet
Dreamer
Ego
Apollonius
Charles Brown
Philosopher
Reviewers
Reason/Reality
Public
Keats does not seem to be on the side of any particular character and by the end of the poem they all seem equally inadequate.
The tone of the poem is by turns: Ironic, Sarcastic, Dramatic, Self Conscious
The story begins with Hermes seaching for a beautiful nymph. He asks Lamia, a snake creature, to help him find the nymph. She says she will do this, if he changes her back into a woman so that she can be with the mortal she loves, Lucius. Hermes grants her wish and she is transformed into a beautiful woman.
Lucius falls in love with the beautiful Lamia, not realising that she is a snake that assumed human form in order to win his admiration. Lamia knows that Apollonius, a wise old man, will recognise her and reveal her secret. So she asks Lycius not to ask him to the wedding.
Apollonius talks Lycius into letting him attend, and he exposes Lamia at the wedding feast. She disappears and Lucius dies.