I found out recently that there is a type of butterfly called Psyche, as well as a genus of moth, which I thought wonderfully beautiful! I think it's perhaps to do with the fact that the Goddess is often depicted with butterfly wings...
Apparently the Greeks used the word Psyche to denote both the Soul and the Butterfly... the latter being the symbol of the soul. It also reflects the story of Cupid and Psyche with Psyche representing the earth bound caterpillar, then her long sleep representing the pupae stage before emerging transformed as a butterfly. I read into this Keats' own personal awakening: his mind now a temple, forever wreathed in its transformational wonders.
Thank you for this thoughtful reading, Victoria :) I do think the butterfly image, with its connotations of transformation and awakening as you say, really does give the Ode an added layer of meaning. Especially when you note this in the context of Keats’ own personal development in May of 1819, when we was writing the great Odes.
I found out recently that there is a type of butterfly called Psyche, as well as a genus of moth, which I thought wonderfully beautiful! I think it's perhaps to do with the fact that the Goddess is often depicted with butterfly wings...
That really is a beautiful and helpful detail. Thanks so much for sharing :)
Apparently the Greeks used the word Psyche to denote both the Soul and the Butterfly... the latter being the symbol of the soul. It also reflects the story of Cupid and Psyche with Psyche representing the earth bound caterpillar, then her long sleep representing the pupae stage before emerging transformed as a butterfly. I read into this Keats' own personal awakening: his mind now a temple, forever wreathed in its transformational wonders.
Thank you for this thoughtful reading, Victoria :) I do think the butterfly image, with its connotations of transformation and awakening as you say, really does give the Ode an added layer of meaning. Especially when you note this in the context of Keats’ own personal development in May of 1819, when we was writing the great Odes.