Isabella Or The Pot Of Basil - Symbols Flashcards
What does the basil represent?
• the basil is a metaphor for the only part of him Isabella has, it is a method of remembrance through grief. It is suggested at the beginning the growth of plants and how it is juxtaposed with the theme of grief and death.
• basil is also a Sicilian symbol of love and death (juxtaposes alike in the poem). Boccaccio used this to represent tragic love between characters.
What do the brothers represent in IOTPOB?
• Isabella’s brothers are infiltrated into the poem to represent the ruthless capitalists of society. Keats lists their mines and factories to symbolise the poor people they exploit for their own benefit. They are in love with “red lines accounts” and are the epitome of pride. Keats wanted to remind readers the dangers of hungry capitalists such as the brothers and the dangers they cause to the lower class, a reflection of Keats and Fanny brawn’s mother.
Why does Keats use flower imagery?
• Keats predominantly uses floral imagery to allow readers to understand the story. Such as “falling sick in the roses domain”, the rose is a symbol of love in reference to the mythological Aphrodite whom would spring roses from the ground due to her beauty. Though roses are also used to represent the inevitable pain that both parties will undergo due to their love. Thus, while sweet and sexually invigorating, the flowers are simultaneously a destructive force. As the story progresses the flowers “wither” just like Isabella’s decay.
