Talk:The Eve of St. Agnes

A central question not discussed in the article is: did they suffer the pangs of unrequited love, or did they actually get it on when "the rose melted into the violet," before she said "Alas! This is no dream!" Edison 04:37, 10 December 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Well considering Keats' relationship with Fanny, I think the much richer reading is one where they don't "get it on" as you phrase it. -FM (talk) 22:09, 3 January 2008 (UTC)FM[reply]

This does not make complete sense to me: "She was condemned to be executed after being raped all night in a brothel; however, a miraculous thunderstorm saved her from rape."

Also, does the original text survive - the text that had to be toned down? --Steve (talk) 20:26, 14 April 2008 (UTC)[reply]

I've removed that stuff about the rape. It's not relevant to the poem. Yes, the original text survives. Paul B (talk) 19:26, 17 April 2008 (UTC)[reply]

rape?[edit]

The article seems pretty cut and dry that Madeline and Porphyro are already in love, however the poem itself is much more circumspect as to whether or not it was a willing copulation; when she first sees him, for example;

   "There was a painful change, that nigh expell’d
   The blisses of her dream so pure and deep
   At which fair Madeline began to weep,"

Believing him to be part of her dream, she relates how the real him does not live up to her expectations;

   “Ah, Porphyro!” said she, “but even now
   “Thy voice was at sweet tremble in mine ear,
   “Made tuneable with every sweetest vow;
   “And those sad eyes were spiritual and clear:
   “How chang’d thou art! how pallid, chill, and drear!

Or when he informs her that this is not a dream, she responds unhappily, aware of the consequences of his being with her, alone and naked, in her bedroom.

   “This is no dream, my bride, my Madeline!”
   (...)
   “No dream, alas! alas! and woe is mine!"

The final line suggests that, although she may love him and be willing to marry him, the idea of pre-marital sex to her, a lady before our more liberal age, is not something she would wish to go through with. I'm not saying this is the only reading of the poem, but I definitely feel it would be worth mentioning.Himynameishelen (talk) 10:41, 17 February 2009 (UTC)[reply]

Also, I feel the article should include reference to how the poem echoes Romeo and Juliet (two "star-crossed lovers" whose families are against one another.) Porphyro is even called "A famish’d pilgrim," which would follow from a line in the Shakespeare. Himynameishelen (talk) 10:40, 17 February 2009 (UTC)[reply]