<p> Examining the significance of eating, drinking, and starvation in the development of John Keats's poetic identity and creative process, this thesis explores the role that acts of consumption play in the formation of a negatively capable identity. The consumption and digestion of other writers allowed Keats to rise above his lower-class status and construct a distinct poetic voice. Through exploring drink as a means of escape, Keats was able not only to accept the reality of suffering, but also to consume painful experiences alongside pleasurable ones. Ultimately, through examining Keats's poetry and letters, eating and drinking can be seen as integral to overcoming the starvation of the men in "La Bell Dame sans Merci" and central to the achievement of the state of negative capability apparent in the intoxicating satisfaction of "To Autumn."</p>
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:PROQUEST/oai:pqdtoai.proquest.com:1527350 |
| Date | 08 April 2014 |
| Creators | Wills, Kacie L. |
| Publisher | California State University, Long Beach |
| Source Sets | ProQuest.com |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | thesis |
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