Eve of St. Agnes Does Porphyro rescue or steal madeline

John Keats’ beautiful poem, “The Eve of St. Agnes,” causes some disagreement among his readers. This work is often either interpreted as an enchanting love story with a fairy tale ending or the complete opposite, a story of deceitful seduction with a grave ending. However, “The Eve of St. Agnes” can be interpreted as a combination of these explanations. Porphyro neither seduces nor loves Madeline. He is, however, infatuated with her and unknowingly takes from …

…that Madeline is taken away from her home only to be brought into a storm that symbolizes more tragedy to come. However, the end of the poem should not be interpreted that Porphyro is now stealing her away after seducing and corrupting her, for he does not know the effects of his actions on her. The reader is left with the thought that now both Porphyro and Madeline are innocently left victim to the storm.