Abstract
This paper delves into John Keats' enduring poem, "La Belle Dame sans Merci," offering a reinterpretation that challenges the traditional perceptions of the mysterious lady that gives the poem its title. Contrary to prevailing supernatural interpretations, which generally cannot escape a patriarchal lens, the paper aims to show that the belle dame is not a mystical being but rather a liberated woman who embraces her sexuality. In turn, the knight's dubious narration is argued to be an intricate attempt to control, silence, and demonize her, motivated by his deep-seated discomfort and emasculation in the face of her empowered sexuality. Through an analysis of the poem's language, imagery, and thematic elements, the nuances that make up the titular character, namely her agency and sexual autonomy in her courtship with the knight, are illuminated. In doing so, the paper aims to display the deeper social anxieties surrounding female sexuality and the complex power dynamics at play in the poem and contribute to the broader discourse on gender roles and identities in 19th-century literature.
References
- Bennett, Andrew J. “Alone and Palely Loitering”: The Reader in Thrall in Keats’s “La Belle Dame sans Merci.” Style, vol. 24, no. 1, 1990, pp. 73–88. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/42945830.
- Cohen, Jane Rabb. “Keats’s Humor in ‘La Belle Dame sans Merci.’” Keats-Shelley Journal, vol. 17, 1968, pp. 10–13. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/30210592.
- Herman, Judith. Trauma and Recovery: The Aftermath of Violence from Domestic Abuse to Political Terror. Basic Books, 1992.
- Keats, John. The Complete Poems of John Keats, edited by Paul Wright, Wordsworth Editions, 1994.
- Lloyd, Richard. Strictures on a Recent Publication entitled The Church her own Enemy; to which are added a Refutation of the Arguments contained in the Rev. Edward Copper’s Letter to the Author and an Admonitory Address to the Female Sex. London, F.C.J. Rivington, 1819.
- Mellor, Anne. K. Romanticism and Gender. Routledge, 1993.
- Schulkins, Rachel. Keats, Modesty and Masturbation. Ashgate, 2014.
- Williams, A. Hyatt. “Keats’ ‘La Belle Dame Sans Merci’: The Bad-Breast Mother.” American Imago, vol. 23, no. 1, 1966, pp. 63–81. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/26302262.
Abstract
Bu makale, John Keats'in şiiri "La Belle Dame sans Merci"yi derinlemesine incelemeyi ve şiire adını veren gizemli kadına ilişkin geleneksel algılara karşıt bir yorum sunmayı amaçlamaktadır. Bu karakterle ilgili yapılan yorumlamalar genellikle patriyarkal bir çerçevenin dışına çıkmamakla birlikte karaktere ölümcül bir doğaüstülük atfedilmektedir ancak bu makale, bu karakterin mistik bir varlık değil, yalnızca cinselliğini benimseyen özgürleşmiş bir kadın olduğunu göstermeyi amaçlamaktadır. Şövalyenin şüpheli anlatısına ise ilişki yaşadığı kadının etkin cinselliği karşısında duyduğu derin rahatsızlık ve iğdiş edilme korkusunın sebep olduğu ve anlatısının kadını kontrol etmeye, onu susturmaya ve şeytanlaştırmaya yönelik bir girişim olduğu savunulmaktadır. Şiirin dilinin, imgelerinin ve tematik unsurlarının analizi yoluyla, gizemli kadının karakterini oluşturan nüanslar ve şövalyeyle yaşadığı karmaşık ilişki gözler önüne serilecektir. Bu bağlamda, bu çalışma ile kadın cinselliği hakkındaki derin toplumsal kaygıları ve şiirde rol oynayan karmaşık güç dinamiklerini ortaya çıkarmak ve 19. yüzyıl edebiyatındaki cinsiyet rolleri ve kimlikleri ile ilgili çalışmalara katkıda bulunmak amaçlanmaktadır.
References
- Bennett, Andrew J. “Alone and Palely Loitering”: The Reader in Thrall in Keats’s “La Belle Dame sans Merci.” Style, vol. 24, no. 1, 1990, pp. 73–88. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/42945830.
- Cohen, Jane Rabb. “Keats’s Humor in ‘La Belle Dame sans Merci.’” Keats-Shelley Journal, vol. 17, 1968, pp. 10–13. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/30210592.
- Herman, Judith. Trauma and Recovery: The Aftermath of Violence from Domestic Abuse to Political Terror. Basic Books, 1992.
- Keats, John. The Complete Poems of John Keats, edited by Paul Wright, Wordsworth Editions, 1994.
- Lloyd, Richard. Strictures on a Recent Publication entitled The Church her own Enemy; to which are added a Refutation of the Arguments contained in the Rev. Edward Copper’s Letter to the Author and an Admonitory Address to the Female Sex. London, F.C.J. Rivington, 1819.
- Mellor, Anne. K. Romanticism and Gender. Routledge, 1993.
- Schulkins, Rachel. Keats, Modesty and Masturbation. Ashgate, 2014.
- Williams, A. Hyatt. “Keats’ ‘La Belle Dame Sans Merci’: The Bad-Breast Mother.” American Imago, vol. 23, no. 1, 1966, pp. 63–81. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/26302262.
Details
| Primary Language | English |
|---|---|
| Subjects | European Language, Literature and Culture, Romantic Literature |
| Journal Section | Makaleler |
| Authors | |
| Publication Date | July 31, 2024 |
| Submission Date | January 13, 2024 |
| Acceptance Date | February 21, 2024 |
| Published in Issue | Year 2024 |