Reading The Eve of Saint Agnes

Gothic Manners and Greek Morals (revised)
I had thought of going through this poem in a systematic manner but, on second thoughts, decided that such an approach would ruin the thing.

Instead a general observation leaving readers to decide for themselves. There is a fascinating similarity between the Beadsman and Madeline in this poem. Both have elected to reject the appeals made by the men of the house. He won't go where the music plays and she won't pay heed to the appeals of the various courtiers who are clearly interested in her.

If we look at Psalm 141 again, we find this:

Incline not my heart to any evil thing,
to practice wicked works with men that work iniquity;
and let me eat not of their dainties.

Both the Beadsman and Madeline are fixed on heavenly matters.

Of course, Madeline will eat the dainties provided by a man who some might argue is trying to work iniquity but she rejects others. Is her moral judgment god or bad? She seems fooled by the illusions of "faery fancy. But is she?

I am still reading Powell and I found this fascinating bit of dialogue between Nick and Mr. Deacon about Gypsy Jones, a young woman whom Mr. Deacon is putting up at his shop, a situation that is delicate if not outright disreputable. Ralph Barnby, a womanizing painter who also uses space provided by Mr. Deacon does not approve.

I asked about the nature of Barnby's objections to Gypsy Jones.

'When Gypsy and I were first acquainted,' said Mr. Deacon, lowering his voice, 'I was given to understand—well, hasn't Swinburne got some lines about "wandering watery sighs where the sea sobs round Lesbian promontories"? In fact restriction to such a coastline was almost a condition of our association.'

'Did Barnby object?'

I think he undoubtedly felt resentment,' said Mr. Deacon 'But, as a very dear friend of mine once remarked when I was a young man—for I was a young man once, whatever you think to the contrary—"Gothic manners don't mix with Greek morals. Gypsy would never learn that.'

What does that mean? Your guess may be better than mine here. Anyway, my short answer is that Mr. Deacon is saying that publicly flouting social norms (Gothic manners) does not go well with privately flouting sexual norms (Greek morals). The long answer could go on for quite a while not least because our  pictures of both the ancient Greek and the medieval Gothic societies are, as Le Bas would have it, largely of our own imaginings.

In a classical conception, social goods and the individual pursuit of happiness line up.  If we think of Pride and Prejudice, we see a novel where it turns out that Elizabeth Bennet's personal quest for sexual happiness through marriage and what is best for the community ultimately line up in a marriage that is good for her and good for the community. Gothic literature was quite different because medieval society was believed to be so rigid and it often featured plots where heroes romantically ran against the norms and desires of parents, family and community to try and find individual happiness. Reading The Eve of Saint Agnes, for example, we don't get the impression that Porphyro and Madeline are going to bring their neighbours and families together for the greater good of the community by running away as they do.

Because they are so at odds with social norms, a Gothic hero must justify themselves in our eyes through the purity or intensity of their love relationship. To put it crudely, Tristan and Iseult would not be nearly so moving if their love was founded on a shared fetish.

This is something worth keeping in mind when reading The Eve of Saint Agnes. Here, quite the opposite of my argument with Brideshead Revisited, I think people project a notion of sex that is far too Greek. To be sure, Porphyro and Madeline have sex but that sex does not occur quite the way people imagine. The poem remains true to Gothic manners and Madeline is, I think, fully aware and in full consent. That puts me in the minority.

Tomorrow I will tell you exactly where I think the sex happens.

Note: I have revised the above to respond to a problem pointed out in the comments.