1、 Introduction

Explored the influence of Lee Hunter on John Keats' poetry creation, pointing out that Hunter was not only a critic of Keats' early works, but also provided guidance in his creation, helping Keats broaden his social circle. Hunter's poetic views and political stance had an impact on Keats' early works, particularly in opposing neoclassical poetics and advocating for a free and unrestrained poetic style. Hunter's political radicalism is linked to his poetic views, and the political factors in Keats' early works are also related to Hunter's influence. By analyzing Hunter's liberal image, we can better understand the political factors in Keats' early poetry and the integration between poetics and politics.

2、 Liberal image

There are 10 poems by Keats that are related to Hunter, of which 8 are directly related and 2 are indirectly related, all of which were created in the early stages. Hunter had a significant influence on Keats' early poetry, especially in shaping the image of liberalism. Keats regards Hunter as Spencer's successor, emphasizing his political identity and reinforcing Hunter's liberal image through the traditional poetic background and political content in his works. Keats sympathized with Hunter's political stance and viewed imprisonment as a manifestation of liberal oppression. Keats' liberal theory mainly includes resistance to monarchy and advocacy for freedom of speech, which complement each other. The details of Hunter's life in prison indicate that despite being imprisoned, Hunter still enjoys spiritual freedom, and his cell has become a pilgrimage site for liberal friends. Keats' Hunter is not only a liberal in thought, but also a liberal in practice, with a high degree of unity between thought and practice.

3、 Historical concept

Explored the historical image of Lee Hunter as a liberal poet, emphasizing his role in inheriting and developing liberalism in the poetic tradition. Hunter's spiritual exchange with senior poets such as Milton in prison, as well as the connection between his epics such as "The Story of Rimini" and "The Fairy Queen," demonstrate Keats' understanding of the historicity of liberalism. Keats portrays the ups and downs of liberalism in different historical periods by mentioning figures who fought for freedom throughout history, such as Alfred the Great, William Wallace, and William Tell, as well as through the image of Brutus in Shakespeare's Julius Caesar. At the same time, Keats also pointed out the obstacles of liberalism in certain periods such as the restoration of Charles II, as well as concerns about the development of liberalism in the current era. He regarded Hunter's liberal actions as a requirement of historical development and believed that Hunter's reputation would endure by following the tide of history. In Keats' historical perspective, although liberalism has been hindered, it generally presents continuity. He expresses his defense of the liberal tradition and optimistic attitude towards future development through poetry and letters.

4、 Internal and external factors

The portrayal of Hunter's liberal image in Keats' poetry is influenced by internal and external factors. The external influence was mainly through Charles Corden Clark, who not only introduced Keats' poetry to Hunter, but also shaped Hunter's liberal image and influenced Keats' liberal consciousness through the Observer magazine. The internal roots are reflected in Keats' character and life. He is upright and resolute, pursuing self realization and resisting external pressures. This personality and political stance deeply influenced his interpersonal relationships and creations. The acquaintance between Keats and Hunter was crucial to his career as a poet, and Hunter was a contemporary who closely aligned with his political stance. After getting to know each other, they read literary classics and wrote poetry together. Keats received the laurel crown from Hunter and wrote "Accepting the Laurel Crown from Lee Hunter" as a tribute, demonstrating his appreciation for this friendship.

5、 Conclusion

The liberal image of Hunter in Keats' poetry is a reflection of his liberal ideas, influenced by multiple factors. Hunter's experience of being punished for his words provided a foundation for Keats to shape his image, and Keats' political ideals of resisting monarchy and pursuing freedom of speech were also involved. Keats' historical perspective holds that liberalism is the mainstream and demand of historical development, affirming Hunter's position and predicting its inevitable victory. The development of Hunter's image is influenced by Keats' external factors and internal personality traits, and poetry creation is the result of the coincidental participation of different subjects. In the early stages of Keats' poetic development, beneficial factors were comprehensively absorbed and transformed into elements of poetry creation, including current events, politics, history, etc., which were integrated and used for their own purposes. During this period, Keats' poetry did not yet exhibit a late style, but rather spoke from the heart and expressed his aspirations through poetry. The early stages have important reference value and inspiration for understanding the overall life of Keats as a poet.