I can definitely see why the romantics resonate with so many young artistic types. The reason for this identification is particularly evident in the case of John Keats. Perhaps this is because of the fact that Keats was so young himself when his body of work was written.

Ode to melancholy, for example, absolutely wreaks of adolescent angst. In particular line 10: "And drown the wakeful anguish of the soul." caught my eye. I attended an art school for half the day in high school and was then and still am friends with many a hopeful writer, artist or musician. I've seen sentiments similar to this echoed over and over in many a sketchbook, poem or lyric to the point it is almost entirely played out. But it is trite because it is part of an almost universal experience of being young and creative. The stereotype of the tortured artist is a stereotype for a reason. I've actually had a friend say to me that they somewhat missed being depressed because it was then that they produced the most writing and visual works, even though not all of those works referenced their depression.


Ode to melancholy, to me, dredges up the feelings I used to have during nights of insomnia, sitting outside in the 3am quiet, feeling very small and very young. I think it's his references to mythology and nature both that give me this sense, both of which are very old and in the case of nature, very vast. While I don't identify with the romantics on the level that I'm sure some have. I can see why someone might feel as if they had found "their people" after stumbling across the romantics.