La Belle Dame Sans Merci

Poem Analysis: “La Belle Dame sans Merci” In “La Belle Dame sans Merci,” John Keats’ stresses the idea that beauty is only skin deep and also lies in the eye of the beholder. Through the use of two speakers, Keats’ is able to portray his theme by means of a story. As the poem begins, the reader meets the first speaker. As we read on, we come to find out that this is a passer-by. …

…found him where he is, where “the sedge is wither’d from the lake, /And no bird sings.” This is a true story of falling in love with the beauty and not the person. The man fell for her like a rock in water. He gave up everything for her and she left him. But in retrospect, when the title of the poem is translated, it turns out she is the “beautiful woman without pity.”