by Junkets » Mon Oct 11, 2004 12:53 pm
The initial interpretation I formed of this epitaph was, as has been mentioned, that Keats was referring to his lack of success and assumed inferiority as a poet. But I now believe that I was wrong; this interpretation, I think, it is not justifiable. Although I don't doubt that there was some humerous reference to his lack of success and inferiority in the epitaph, I don't think that Keats would pass up the opportunity of making a final and enduring statement without incoporating any poetical flair. Ask yourself, knowing the poetry, letters and theories of Keats, as I'm sure you all do, whether such a down-hearted, almost self indulgent and weak statement would be made by a man so continually concerned with truth and beauty, a man with such a strong vision, a man with such understanding and intent . I don't believe it would. I believe that epitaph echoes that which is seen throughout his poetry, and in particular Ode to a Nightingale and Hyperion, the notion of achieving the transcendent, the ability to 'dissolve' and obtain a degree of omniscience, to become in essence an etheral part of Nature. To further a point mentioned by Matt, if you take a pen and 'write' your name in the water with ink, the ink is dissolved into the water and becomes akin to nothing, but the ink will spread throughout the water and will always be present. While my original reading of the epitaph made me feel a litle sad for Keats, this second reading makes me smile.