The Wisdom Of Negative Capability In The "ODE On A Grecian URN"

As John Keats’s most important principle in poetry writing, Negative Capability has aroused greater attention in literary field. According to Keats, it means that a great poet should be "capable of being in uncertainties, mysteries, doubts, without any irritable reaching after fact and reason", for "with a great poet the sense of Beauty overcomes every other consideration, or rather obliterates all consideration". In fact, owing to its inclusive and dynamic nature, this theory has transcended the boarder of literature and become an important principle in aesthetics and philosophy. It requires the observer to negate his own identity through imagination so as to get an empathetic feeling with the objects around, and in this way achieve the ecstasy where truth is beauty. This thesis, in expectation of revealing the significance of Negative Capability, makes a detailed analysis of Keats’s "Ode on a Grecian Urn" by studying the four key implications of this theory, namely, imagination, ecstasy, uncertainty, as well as beauty, which are chosen according to the inner logic of this particular "ode"The thesis can be divided into six parts. The Introduction traces the process during which this theory has evolved. Largely modeling on Dickstein’s division of Keats’s mental growth, this thesis divides its formation process into five stages, and dwells on the most critical years when Keats is undergoing an upheaval of consciousness. In the end of this part, the theoretical framework of Negative Capability is introduced, and its major implications as well as their interrelations are also briefly explained.Chapter One analyzes the vital importance of imagination in Negative Capability. It starts by demonstrating the credibility of imagination, and then reveals the core procedure of imagination, namely sympathetic identification, which means that the observer is glad and able to imagine himself as the objects around, and appreciate the world from the vicarious point of view. This chapter also traces the factors leading to Keats’s "enormous" imaginative power. His willingness of identification lies in his profound love of the world while his specific capability originates from his rich experience, either through direct senses or indirect learning. Chapter Two discusses the second implication of Negative Capability-ecstasy, which is the maximum energy that can be generated in the interaction between the observer and the arts bearing the genuine feelings of their creators. Since these genuine feelings are not limited in one specific interaction, this chapter also gives an account of the inclusive nature of ecstasy. Moreover, a detailed discussion on the unceasing interchanges between the opposing feelings inside each interaction is also presented in this part.Chapter Three moves on to discuss the poet’s mental dealings with the attendant uncertainty and doubts brought by ecstasy. In fact, Keats’s attitude towards uncertainty undergoes three different stages. He firstly awakens from the escaping "bowers", then lapses into a fancy towards the unfeeling nature, which will never be tortured by the memory of the cold winter, and at last makes a breakthrough by putting forward the term "the vale of Soul-making", arguing that the harsh reality is the best place to forge the soul. In this way,"Negative Capability" manifests its most positive aspect.Chapter Four conducts an analysis of the relationship among arts, beauty and truth. It reveals the friendly relationship between arts and human beings, and gives a detailed analysis of the maxim "Beauty is truth, truth beauty". Truth is "the wisdom by which men live", and beauty is the feeling of grasping the wisdom through all forms of arts. Hence, it can be said that in Keats’s mind, arts, beauty and truth are closely related.In the Conclusion, this thesis reiterates the importance of "Negative Capability" in the writing career of Keats as well as its monumental status in the literary field. We can safely say that this Negative Capability enables him to set his imagination free and to embrace the world with a dynamic and inclusive mind. His exemplary pursuit for beauty inspires poets and aestheticians in the following centuries, and his therapies for overcoming the pains in his imperfect world will always remain meaningful for us confronted with our problems of self and life.