John Keats

John Keats

Born on October 31st, 1795, London he was the oldest of his four siblings. He was the son of Thomas and Frances Keats. They were a poor family but they manage to survive and John had a close family relationship. It appeared that he was happy during his childhood. At the age of eight he entered Enfield Academy where it was showed he had a good charisma and made many friends who state that John would fight anyone. On April 1804 his father died due to an injury from his horse stumbling this event would just be one of serveral losses. His mother soon remarried then left the family only to show up ill then dying from tuberculosis. Just leaving John the oldest male in his family.  From what he experienced he wrote to his brother about his experiences, suffering, and his spiritual development. His relation to literature truly began when he was allowed access to Clarke's library. He saw literature as an exploration rather than a refuge from his past. Keats struggled with his career but sooned found and offered his insight and his definition of beauty. He gained his insight at the age of 15 and his literary career wasn't seen as something as serious. They lived with their grandmother Alice Jennings who took their financial future and gave it to Richard Abbey who was soon appointed as their guardian. Narrowed minded Richard would hold on to the Keats money until when one of John's sisters became of age they were able to forced a legal settlement. Able to get some of their money back they lost the majority of it. Soon after John studied to be a surgeon while being apprenticed to a well respected surgeon, Thomas Hammond. But that life made him lonely he began to wander into the wood and began to read literature again which ignited his passion of it again. In 1814 he wrote his first poem  In Imitation of Spenser. As politics began to play a role in his life two years later he published On Peace after the defeat of Napolian. Around 1817 he met his love interest Isabella Jone who inspired his to write Bright Star which was originally meant for her. They remained friends and a year later John met with Fanny Brawne they both developed a relationship but it was over shadow by his brothers illness. Keats fell in love and gave a revised version of Bright Star as proof of his love. He soon had internal conflicts with his career and his love. He decided on his career leaving a letter to Brawne apologizing for his selfishness. During 1818 he lived with his friend Charles Brown where their he created his most mature work. During that winter of 1818 he met with Wordsworth from there on he publish his six Odes. On his last months he spend his time at Rome where he died on February 23rd, 1821