To Benjamin Bailey (November 22, 1817)

Portrait of Benjamin Bailey

“The Authenticity Of The Imagination”
“The Authenticity Of The Imagination” was a letter written by John Keats on November 22, 1817. The letter was written to his good friend Benjamin Bailey speculating on religion and imagination. Keats was striving to finish “Endymion” and had just taken leave from a month stay at Oxford, where Bailey was an undergraduate and studying theology (Wasserman, 1953). Keats and Bailey’s friendship can be evidenced by his often signing letters to Benjamin Bailey as his affectionate friend and brother. Keats also demonstrated him as a confidant as he wrote to him of his illness and penchant for taking Mercury, often used to treat venereal disease, which could have contributed to his untimely death (Davis, 2004).
Keats writes to his friend Benjamin and discusses some thoughts on imagination and religion. It is believed that since Benjamin was studying theology, they may have had discussions regarding theological philosophies during Keats stay at Oxford that influenced this letter. Keats begins his letter with the discussion of the authenticity of imagination. Keats says “I am certain of nothing but of the holiness of the Heart’s affections and the truth of Imagination– What the imagination seizes as Beauty must be truth” (302). Keats compares gaining insight into reality through imagination or creativity to waking from a dream. He says in his letter to Benjamin, “Imagination may be compared to Adam’s dream – he awoke and found it truth” (Norton, 302). Keats writes on saying, “O for a Life of Sensations rather than of Thoughts! Praising those who “delight in sensation rather than hunger . . . after Truth” (Norton, 302). By sensations Keats means the “direct intuitions of the imagination (White, 456).” When you consider the line “O for a life of sensations rather than thoughts!” it can be misleading. It is referencing Keats discussion of imagination. He believes sensations and extensive knowledge to be “needful of thinking people (white, 457).” Keats starts to tie in religion or spirituality in the letter. He argues that “Imagination and its empyreal reflection is the same as human Life and its spiritual repetition” (302). Keats ends his letter with discussion of his ill health, and that it is not the same as his brother’s illness. It is believed that Keats was suffering from a venereal disease, and that he was trying to get rid of the ‘bad blood’ by taking doses of mercury (Davis, 86). He encourages his friend to continue on his course of learning theology, but also increase his “knowledge in all things.” He tells his friend that sometimes he becomes distracted, that he sometimes “does not feel passion of affection during a whole week” but that it does not mean he is “heartless” and wishes his friend well.
Keats does not often comment on his own poetry often in his letters. He does however in a letter to James August Hessey on October 9th 1818 mention his own poetry in the context of criticism. He references their shortcomings and “the pain beyond comprehension” of his own criticism (White, 458).” As can be seen in this letter he does reference another of his works, “Ode to A Grecian Urn.” The phrase what the imagination seizes as beauty must be truth can also be seen in Keat’s “Ode To A Grecian Urn”.
This letter is a perfect example of his tie to the Romantic period. He discusses imagination and uses strong use of emotions. As is typical of the Romantic Period, Keats emphasizes imagination rather than reason of importance. He tells his friend Benjamin specifically that his hunger after truth or use of reason, is futile and that he must seek the beauty of truth in imagination.

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http://englishhistory.net/keats/letters/bailey8October1817.html
http://www.john-keats.com/briefe/221117.htm Shows missing part of the letter
http://nellspuddin.blogspot.com/2010/02/john-keats-letters-of-benjamin-bailey.html
http://42opus.com/v5n1/tobenjaminbailey
http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=Benjamin+Bailey+%281791-1853%29+&go=Submit+Query&qs=bs&form=QBIR#view=detail&id=62D0A782A77F7D3B6C990BB0E531488BCC148463&selectedIndex=0
Abrams, M.H. (2000). The Norton Anthology of English Literature. New York, NY: W.W Norton & Company, Inc.
Davis, S. (2004). John Keats and “The Poison”: venereal or mercurial? Keats-Shelley Association of America, Inc.
White, I. (1926). John Keats As A Critic. The Johns Hopkins University Press.