Misogyny

John Keats’ “La Belle Dame sans Merci” may be regarded as one of the best poems of his time due to the complexity in its interpretation despite its relatively cheap language. On scrutiny, the poem appears to be misogynistic. The author in the poem seems to hold strong feelings against women and their possession of a power which can be seen throughout most parts of the poem. The author seems to be attracted to women but at the same time loathes them due to a certain fear that they might disappoint him or control him if he lets his emotions flow freely. This fear may stem from the belief that a woman should not have any power against him, but rather only he should subdue her. As the speaker starts explaining his situation, he makes it clear that he was the one that met the woman, seduced and fell in love with her not the other way around. The author here paints the controlling nature of man against woman. The night-at arms seduce the woman by making “a garland for her head and bracelets too” (Keats, IV, II). These items are adequate for him to have sex with her. He even believes that the woman implied she loved him even though he couldn’t comprehend her language. She also plays her duty of feeding the man well by fetching him manna-dew, honey wild and roots of relish. All of a sudden, the speaker becomes the victim of the woman’s machination. The speaker says that she takes him to her Elfin Grot where she starts controlling him by weeping and lulling him to sleep wh…