キーツにおける「消極的能力」と叙情の構造

Abstract

Although he defined the poetical quality which Shakespeare possessed so enormously as "Negative Capability", Keats himself seemed to have the almost same character as Shakespeare had. But a careful examination will show the fundamental difference between Keats and Shakespeare. The distinct difference between them is not the quality but the structure of their minds. As he said "Fair is foul, and foul is fair", Shakespeare accepted any contradictions and saw the real world from various angles. On the contrary Keats saw the world through the eye of beauty and loved the essence behind the appearance. Keats admired Shakespeare and tried to reach the height of his art. But after all he could not write any play as valuable as Shakespeare's. The structure of his mind was not fitted enough for writing plays. But once he took a pen for lyric, his great odes for example, he did miracle. It may be said that his great achievement in the field of lyrical poetry mainly depended upon his innate "negative capability" that was slightly different from Shakespeare's great "Negative Capability."