A THING OF BEAUTY IS JOY FOR EVER
A THING OF BEAUTY IS JOY FOR EVER
By Prof Waqar Hussain
For Keats, beauty doesn't mean physical of things but a truthful representation of Reality. he advances his concept of beauty saying; "Beauty is Truth, Truth beauty". So 'truth' is the essence of beauty. hence this maxim becomes a theory of arts describing the essential element of everlasting beauty, 'truth'.
Keats sees this picturesque universe as the reflection of God. The melodious songs of nightingale, charming odor of roses, bewitching colors of rain-bow, captivating innocence of the offspring, heart throbbing lofty mountains, mysterious silence of calm oceans- all are the portraits of nature, confirming the idea of Plato "the entire world is representation of Reality". Keats steps further and extends the idea of beauty from the representation of Reality to the presentation of human feelings and aspirations in the form of fine arts. He says why Shakespeare's great tragedies are great, they are great because they give a truthful presentation of both smiles and tears, delight and dole, rose and thorn. Either is the smile of Mona Lisa, mysterious awe of Egyptian pyramids, melody of Rafi, Ghazals of Ghalib, wisdom of the sayings of Sa'adi-- all are modest, honest and artistic representation of human emotions. Hafiz Shirazi says:
"Minstrel bring thy lay divine
Freshly fresh and newly new".
Keats was inspired and fascinated by beauty to an extent that he started its adoration. he wrote to his friend Fanny: "I used to shudder how people die for their religion, I shudder no more, my dearest Fanny, because I myself can die fro my religion now and my religion is Beauty and Love". Keats' maxim is contrary to another famous adage "Beauty is but skin deep". But Keats has given new meaning to the word 'Beauty' which is not skin deep but deeper than the Pacific, higher than the Everest, wider the the Sahara and above all, it is everlasting.
By Prof Waqar Hussain
Keats sees this picturesque universe as the reflection of God. The melodious songs of nightingale, charming odor of roses, bewitching colors of rain-bow, captivating innocence of the offspring, heart throbbing lofty mountains, mysterious silence of calm oceans- all are the portraits of nature, confirming the idea of Plato "the entire world is representation of Reality". Keats steps further and extends the idea of beauty from the representation of Reality to the presentation of human feelings and aspirations in the form of fine arts. He says why Shakespeare's great tragedies are great, they are great because they give a truthful presentation of both smiles and tears, delight and dole, rose and thorn. Either is the smile of Mona Lisa, mysterious awe of Egyptian pyramids, melody of Rafi, Ghazals of Ghalib, wisdom of the sayings of Sa'adi-- all are modest, honest and artistic representation of human emotions. Hafiz Shirazi says:
"Minstrel bring thy lay divine
Freshly fresh and newly new".
Keats was inspired and fascinated by beauty to an extent that he started its adoration. he wrote to his friend Fanny: "I used to shudder how people die for their religion, I shudder no more, my dearest Fanny, because I myself can die fro my religion now and my religion is Beauty and Love". Keats' maxim is contrary to another famous adage "Beauty is but skin deep". But Keats has given new meaning to the word 'Beauty' which is not skin deep but deeper than the Pacific, higher than the Everest, wider the the Sahara and above all, it is everlasting.
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