Ode to Melancholy (p.442)

In this poem the narrator uses three stanzas to warn the reader that he should be mindful of how Beauty and Joy will one day be overcome by Melancholy.  The first stanza contains a number of warnings by the narrator that the reader should not forget.  The reader is cautioned not to use a number of different ways to prematurely end his life through Wolf’s-bane, poisonous wine, nightshade, Proserpine, and yew-berries.  Considering how John Keats’ earlier poems detailed his fascination with death brought on prematurely through the use of poison, I was confused at how he cautioned the reader not to take that path in this poem.  Instead, the narrator almost encourages the reader to await the inevitable onset of sadness when youthful hallmarks of beauty and joy are overwhelmed even in the symbolic “temple of Delight.” (line 25)  In stark contrast to the connection of beauty and joy in the temple of Delight “Veil’d Melancholy has her Sovran shrine,”(line 26) and it is there that the youth possessing beauty and joy “shall taste the sadness of her might,/And be among her cloudy trophies hung.” (lines 29 & 30)

            I think the first stanza’s invitation to avoid the “easy out” through suicide is the narrator’s way of beckoning the reader to the same sad fate the narrator has experienced.  The narrator assumes everyone would consider that remedy and wants them to wait to be overwhelmed by melancholy.  The narrator has probably had a life filled with domestic conflict (“thy mistress some rich anger shows” (line 18)) and has seen his sorrows overwhelm him like “the rainbow of the salt and sand-wave.” (line 16)  I don’t know why his happiness has been destroyed by a melancholy that was stronger than beauty and joy but the narrator attributes the upper hand to melancholy above all other feelings.

            Keats clearly had more than his share of heartaches growing up and losing his parents at a young age and that is reflected in his work.  His best work stemmed from anguish and hopefully writing about it gave him an outlet for that depression.  Like many other great writers and artists, the very deep sadness they felt gave rise to poetry that many can read, identify with and appreciate.  I worry that maybe the experience of growing old can lead us to strengthen the melancholic tendencies inside while starving the joyful longings in our hearts.  If that is a natural progression then I would like to think that these poems are signposts giving us instruction to enjoy what we have, while we have it.  It will be gone soon enough and if we accept things we can’t change and change those things we can, maybe Melancholy will have one fewer cloudy trophy to claim.