Negative Capability: Etymology/Term, Meanings and Concept
“Negative Capability” is a term coined by the English poet John Keats in a letter to his brothers in 1817. It refers to the capacity of individuals to embrace uncertainty, ambiguity, and the unknown without the impulse to seek resolution or impose fixed meanings. The term suggests the ability to tolerate doubt and live with unanswered questions, allowing for openness to multiple interpretations and experiences. In essence, it’s about being comfortable with the idea of not having all the answers and finding beauty and richness in the mysteries of life.
Meanings and Concept:
- Embracing Uncertainty: Negative Capability involves accepting the inherent uncertainties and complexities of existence without feeling the need to resolve them.
- Avoiding the Urge for Certainty: It’s about resisting the impulse to impose fixed meanings or interpretations onto the world and being comfortable with ambiguity.
- Cultivating Creativity: Negative Capability encourages creativity by fostering an openness to diverse perspectives and interpretations, allowing for the exploration of new ideas and possibilities.
- Tolerance for Paradox: It involves the ability to hold contradictory ideas or feelings simultaneously without seeking to reconcile them, recognizing that life is often full of paradoxes.
- Appreciating the Unknown: Negative Capability values the beauty and richness found in the mysteries and uncertainties of life, seeing them as sources of inspiration and growth.
Negative Capability: Definition of a Theoretical Term
Negative Capability refers to the capacity to embrace uncertainty and ambiguity without seeking immediate resolution. It entails a willingness to tolerate the complexities of existence and the contradictions within oneself and the world. This concept emphasizes the value of living with unanswered questions and the openness to multiple interpretations, fostering creativity and intellectual growth.
Negative Capability: Theorists, Works, and Arguments
Theorists and Writers:
- John Keats: As the originator of Negative Capability, Keats discussed the concept in his letters to George and Tom Keats, notably in December 1817.
- Samuel Taylor Coleridge: A contemporary of Keats, Coleridge explored similar ideas concerning the suspension of disbelief and acceptance of uncertainty in poetry and creativity.
- F. R. Leavis: This influential literary critic referenced Negative Capability in his analysis of Keats’ poetry, highlighting its importance in understanding the complexities of human experience.
- Martin Heidegger: Although Heidegger didn’t explicitly address Negative Capability, his philosophy, particularly his concept of “Being-in-the-world,” resonates with similar themes of embracing existential uncertainties.
Works and Arguments:
- John Keats’ Letters: Keats’ letters to his brothers serve as the primary source for understanding Negative Capability and its implications for poetry and life.
- Keats’ Poetry: Keats’s poetic works, especially his odes and longer narratives, exemplify the application of Negative Capability in exploring themes of beauty, transience, and the mysteries of existence.
- Literary Criticism: Various scholars have analyzed Keats’ poetry through the lens of Negative Capability, examining how it shapes his aesthetic and philosophical outlook.
- Existential Philosophy: Negative Capability intersects with existentialist thought, particularly in its emphasis on embracing uncertainty and ambiguity as fundamental aspects of human existence.
Negative Capability: Major Characteristics
- Embracing Uncertainty: Negative Capability involves a willingness to accept and engage with uncertainty without seeking immediate resolution. Keats emphasizes this in his letter to George and Tom Keats, stating, “uncertainties, Mysteries, doubts, without any irritable reaching after fact & reason.”
- Tolerance for Ambiguity: It entails the ability to tolerate ambiguity and contradiction, allowing for multiple interpretations and perspectives to coexist. In his poetry, Keats often explores ambiguous and contradictory themes, such as beauty and mortality, in works like “Ode to a Nightingale” and “Ode on Melancholy.”
- Creative Openness: Negative Capability fosters creativity by encouraging individuals to remain open to diverse experiences, ideas, and emotions. Keats exemplifies this in his poetic process, where he channels his experiences and emotions into his works, as seen in poems like “To Autumn” and “La Belle Dame sans Merci.”
- Appreciation of Mystery: It involves an appreciation for the mysteries and complexities of life, recognizing the limitations of human understanding. Keats expresses this sentiment in his poetry, where he often explores the enigmatic aspects of existence, as seen in “Bright Star” and “The Eve of St. Agnes.”
- Resistance to Rationalization: Negative Capability rejects the impulse to rationalize or explain away the mysteries of existence, instead embracing the inherent irrationality of life. Keats advocates for this in his poetic theory, asserting the importance of “being in uncertainties, Mysteries, doubts, without any irritable reaching after fact & reason.”
These characteristics of Negative Capability are reflected in John Keats’s poetry and letters, where he grapples with the complexities of human experience and the limitations of language and reason in capturing its essence.
Negative Capability: Relevance in Literary Theories
| Literary Theory | Relevance of Negative Capability |
| New Criticism | Negative Capability challenges the New Critical emphasis on close reading and authorial intent by advocating for the acceptance of uncertainty and ambiguity in literary interpretation. |
| Reader-Response Theory | Negative Capability aligns with Reader-Response Theory by highlighting the importance of the reader’s subjective experience and interpretation of a text, emphasizing the openness to multiple meanings and perspectives. |
| Poststructuralism | Negative Capability resonates with Poststructuralist theories by emphasizing the inherent instability and indeterminacy of language and meaning, encouraging an openness to the multiplicity of interpretations. |
| Deconstruction | Negative Capability complements Deconstruction by challenging fixed binary oppositions and hierarchies, encouraging the exploration of paradoxes and contradictions in literary texts. |
| Aestheticism | It is central to Aestheticism, which prioritizes the experience of beauty and the pursuit of art for art’s sake, advocating for the acceptance of uncertainty and mystery in artistic expression. |
| Postcolonial Theory | It intersects with Postcolonial Theory by acknowledging the limitations of Eurocentric frameworks in understanding diverse cultural experiences, encouraging an openness to alternative perspectives. |
| Feminist Theory | It is relevant to Feminist Theory by challenging patriarchal norms and fixed gender roles, advocating for an openness to diverse and complex representations of gender and identity in literature. |
Negative Capability: Application in Critiques
| Literary Work | Application of Negative Capability Critique |
| “Hamlet” by William Shakespeare | It allows critics to appreciate the complexities of Hamlet’s character, resisting simplistic interpretations and embracing the uncertainty surrounding his motives and actions. Critics can explore the ambiguity of Hamlet’s procrastination and the multiple layers of his psychology without seeking definitive answers. |
| “The Great Gatsby” by F. Scott Fitzgerald | In critiquing “The Great Gatsby,” it encourages an examination of the novel’s elusive themes of wealth, love, and the American Dream without imposing fixed interpretations. Critics can appreciate Fitzgerald’s use of symbolism and ambiguity to convey the enigmatic nature of Gatsby’s character and the society he inhabits. |
| “Beloved” by Toni Morrison | It allows critics to engage with the haunting and enigmatic elements of “Beloved,” embracing the novel’s nonlinear narrative and ambiguous portrayal of history and memory. Critics can explore Morrison’s exploration of trauma and identity without seeking to resolve the novel’s mysteries or contradictions. |
| “Waiting for Godot” by Samuel Beckett | In critiquing “Waiting for Godot,” it enables critics to appreciate the play’s existential themes and absurdist humor without expecting a definitive resolution. Critics can explore Beckett’s portrayal of the human condition and the characters’ futile search for meaning in a world devoid of certainty or purpose. |
Negative Capability: Relevant Terms
| Theoretical Term | Brief Description of Similar Concept |
| Suspension of Disbelief | The temporary acceptance of implausible or fantastical elements in literature or art for the sake of enjoyment or immersion. |
| Ambiguity | The presence of multiple possible interpretations or meanings within a text or work of art, often intentionally created by the author. |
| Paradox | A statement or situation that appears contradictory or absurd but may reveal deeper truths or complexities upon further examination. |
| Dialectical Thinking | The process of examining and resolving contradictions or opposing ideas to arrive at a deeper understanding or synthesis of truth. |
| Irony | A literary device involving the use of words or situations to convey a meaning that is the opposite of their literal interpretation, often for humorous or satirical effect. |
| Absurdism | A philosophical belief that human existence is inherently meaningless and irrational, often explored through themes of existential despair and the search for meaning. |
| Uncertainty Principle | A concept in quantum mechanics asserting that the position and momentum of a particle cannot be precisely determined simultaneously, reflecting inherent uncertainties in the physical world. |
| Relativism | The philosophical notion that truth, morality, or values are not absolute but dependent on individual perspectives, cultural contexts, or historical conditions. |
| Nihilism | A philosophical belief that life is without inherent meaning, purpose, or value, often accompanied by a sense of existential despair or indifference. |
| Deconstruction | A critical approach in literary theory and philosophy that seeks to expose and destabilize the fixed meanings and binary oppositions inherent in texts and language. |
Negative Capability: Suggested Readings
- Bloom, Harold. The Anxiety of Influence. Oxford University Press, 1973.
- Keats, John. The Letters of John Keats, edited by Hyder Edward Rollins, Harvard University Press, 1958.
- Shakespeare, William. Hamlet. Edited by Harold Jenkins, Arden Shakespeare, 1982.
- Beckett, Samuel. Waiting for Godot. Faber and Faber, 1954.
- Fitzgerald, F. Scott. The Great Gatsby. Scribner, 1925.
- Morrison, Toni. Beloved. Alfred A. Knopf, 1987.