Poem Analysis - What Can I Do To Drive Away

Introduction: A Battle Between Love and Loss

John Keats' "What Can I Do To Drive Away" is a raw and emotionally charged exploration of love's consuming power and the speaker's desperate attempt to escape its hold. The poem fluctuates between longing and a desire for freedom, creating a turbulent atmosphere of both pleasure and pain. Initially, the tone is one of frustration and near desperation, shifting to moments of ecstatic remembrance and ultimately settling into a bittersweet acceptance. The poem captures a speaker wrestling with the complex emotions that love evokes, specifically its ability to both liberate and imprison.

The Torment of Love's Memory

One of the central themes in this poem is the torment of love's memory. The speaker begins by questioning how to rid himself of the "Remembrance" of his "brilliant Queen." This memory is not merely a pleasant recollection, but a force that actively prevents him from finding peace and "old liberty." The phrase "Touch has a memory" suggests that the physical intimacy shared with his love is deeply ingrained, making escape all the more difficult. The insistent repetition of "What can I do" emphasizes the speaker's desperation and feeling of being trapped.

The Allure and Danger of Love

Another significant theme is the allure and danger of love. The poem highlights love's intoxicating power, as exemplified by the speaker's vivid recollection of his "lady bright" and his yearning to "rest / My soul upon that dazzling breast!" These lines showcase the euphoric heights that love can reach. However, this bliss is intertwined with pain, as seen in the phrase "O, the sweetness of the pain!" This oxymoronic statement reveals the speaker's awareness that love, while intensely pleasurable, can also be a source of suffering. The speaker describes her arms as "tender gaolers," further emphasizing the idea that love can be both comforting and constricting, a prison of affection.

The Quest for Lost Freedom and Inspiration

The poem explores the theme of lost artistic freedom in the context of love. The speaker laments the time "When every fair one that I saw was fair / Enough to catch me in but half a snare, / Not keep me there." He recalls a past when love was fleeting and did not hinder his creative spirit. He yearns to regain his "moulted feathers," a metaphor for his lost inspiration, to "mount once more / Above, above / The reach of fluttering Love." The speaker associates his present state of infatuation with a decline in his artistic abilities, feeling that love has clipped his muse's wings and tied him to the earth. He contrasts his current experience with a time when his "muse had wings" and was easily directed, suggesting a loss of creative control.

Imagery of Confinement and Release

Recurring imagery of confinement and release is central to the poem's message. The "wicked strand" and "monstrous region" described in the middle stanzas represent a state of emotional and artistic stagnation. This bleak landscape, devoid of beauty and joy, symbolizes the speaker's inner turmoil and feelings of being trapped. The imagery of "dull rivers" pouring from "sordid urns" evokes a sense of unending sorrow and hopelessness. This dark imagery sharply contrasts with the earlier descriptions of his "brilliant Queen" and the later yearning for the "sunny spell." The image of the sea-bird is also important, the speaker is trying to reach the level of the bird that is flying about the problems, not thinking about them.

Conclusion: A Dream of Love's Sufficiency

In conclusion, "What Can I Do To Drive Away" is a powerful exploration of love's multifaceted nature. Keats captures the conflicting emotions of longing, frustration, and fleeting joy that characterize the speaker's experience. Ultimately, the poem suggests that while love can be a source of pain and confinement, the memory and even the dream of love can be enough to sustain the speaker. The final lines, "Enough! Enough! it is enough for me / To dream of thee!" reveal a bittersweet acceptance, suggesting that the intensity of the speaker's feelings, even in their absence, provides a sense of fulfillment. The poem leaves the reader with a poignant understanding of love's complex power to both liberate and enslave the human heart and mind.