On the Sale by Auction of Keats’ Love Letters by Oscar Wilde

“On the Sale by Auction of Keats’ Love Letters” is a poem by playwright, poet, and critic Oscar Wilde and a compelling reflection on the commodification of personal and artistic expression. This piece criticizes the commercialization of John Keats’ intimate correspondence. Wilde poignantly contrasts the profound emotions contained in these letters with the triviality of their treatment at an auction. This poem is a must-read for those interested in exploring the intersection of art, love, and commerce. “On the Sale by Auction of Keats’ Love Letters” is found in Wilde’s poetry collection Poems, For a deeper dive into Wilde’s rich poetry, including this piece, Poems ebook is available at PageVio.

1. The Poem

These are the letters which Endymion wrote
   To one he loved in secret, and apart.
   And now the brawlers of the auction mart
Bargain and bid for each poor blotted note,
Ay! for each separate pulse of passion quote
   The merchant’s price.  I think they love not art
   Who break the crystal of a poet’s heart
That small and sickly eyes may glare and gloat.

Is it not said that many years ago,
   In a far Eastern town, some soldiers ran
   With torches through the midnight, and began
To wrangle for mean raiment, and to throw
   Dice for the garments of a wretched man,
Not knowing the God’s wonder, or His woe?

Download On the Sale by Auction of Keats’ Love Letters Poster

Size: 8″ x 12″ (2:3 ratio)

Format: PDF

Copyright information: For personal use only

Note: Actual poster background color is white. For the sample poster, the background is made gray for illustration purpose.

2. On the Sale by Auction of Keats’ Love Letters Analysis

This poem, stanza by stanza, conveys a poignant message about the commodification of personal and artistic expressions, and draws a parallel to a biblical event. Let’s analyze each stanza:

First Stanza

Lines 1-2: The poem starts by mentioning letters written by Endymion, a figure from Greek mythology known for his beauty and his eternal sleep. These letters were written to a secretly loved one, indicating a deep, private emotion.

Lines 3-4: The setting shifts to a modern, more mundane one – an auction. Here, Endymion’s deeply personal letters are being bargained over as mere commodities.

Lines 5-8: These lines lament how the passionate and intimate contents of the letters are being reduced to monetary value. The poet criticizes those who can’t appreciate the true art and emotion behind these works, suggesting that their commercialization diminishes their value. The phrase “crystal of a poet’s heart” metaphorically represents the purity and fragility of artistic expression, now shattered by those who see it only as an item for trade.

Second Stanza

Lines 9-12: The stanza begins with a reference to a historical or legendary event, set in a distant Eastern town. Soldiers, depicted engaging in crude and disrespectful behavior, are shown running with torches at midnight, creating a scene of chaos and disregard.

Lines 13-14: These soldiers are described as gambling for the clothes of a “wretched man,” treating them as trivial items. These final lines reveal a significant twist: the garments actually belonged to a divine figure (implied to be Jesus Christ), but the soldiers were oblivious to the significance of their actions and the person they belonged to. This ignorance mirrors the earlier described scene at the auction, where the true value of the poet’s work is unrecognized.

Overall, the poem draws a parallel between the sacred and the profane, and the tragic ignorance of true value – whether it be the divine nature of Christ or the profound emotions in a poet’s writings. The poet critiques how society often fails to recognize and respect the deeper significance and sanctity of both artistic and spiritual matters.

3. Conclusion

We believe you’ll enjoy “On the Sale by Auction of Keats’ Love Letters.” Furthermore, exploring this list of Oscar Wilde’s poetry could be of interest to you.