Meditation on the Meaning of
Life *
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John Keats (1795-1821)
I
compare human life to a large Mansion of Many Apartments, two of which I can
only describe, the doors of the rest being as yet shut upon me — The first we
step into we call the infant or thoughtless Chamber, in which we remain as
long as we do not think — We remain there a long while, and notwithstanding
the doors of the second Chamber remain wide open, showing a bright
appearance, we care not to hasten to it; but are at length imperceptibly
impelled by awakening of the thinking principle — within us — we no sooner
get into the second Chamber, which I shall call the Chamber of
Maiden-Thought, than we become intoxicated with the light and the atmosphere,
we see nothing but pleasant wonders, and think of delaying there for ever in
delight: However among the effects this breathing is father of is that
tremendous one of sharpening one’s vision into the nature and heart of Man —
of convincing one’s nerves that the World is full of misery and Heartbreak,
Pain, sickness and oppression — whereby This Chamber of Maiden Thought
becomes gradually darken’d and at the same time on all sides of it many doors
are set open — but all dark — all leading to dark passages — We see not the
balance of good and evil. We are in a Mist — We are now in that state — We
feel the burden of the Mystery.
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* John Keats’ digressive message to a friend
while discussing the poetry of great contemporaries (Wordsworth and Milton).
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