Molly’s La Belle Dame Sans Merci

My piece is inspired by the poem ‘La Belle Dame Sans Merci’ written in 1819 by John Keats, in which a wayward knight comes across a woman whom resembles a ‘faery’s child’. She declares her love and provides him with ‘roots of relish sweet’, leading the knight to apparently fall ill and have nightmares of the woman’s previous victims; Kings and Princes alike. When the knight awakens, he is alone, ashen faced and ‘palely loitering’, with the faery like woman having left him to die beside a lake.

My corset would be worn by the titular character of the poem, which translates to ‘The Beautiful Lady Without Mercy’. The pale green colour of the silk fabric reflects her woodland abode and ensures she blends into her environment where she lies in wait- appearing innocent to lure passing knights and princes. The feminine cut and ruffle on the corset ensure she appears beautiful to travellers she encounters, emphasizing her ‘faery’ like appearance and ethereal beauty as described by the knight.

The lily of the valley embellishment hints at her beautiful yet deadly character; the flowers are delicate and pretty yet when consumed they are poisonous and fatal. Additionally, the fly agaric and death cap mushrooms are similarly lethal and hint at the fate of the woe-begotten knight whom has fallen victim to her charms. Ultimately, the bright and contrasting embroideries serve as a visual warning of the faery-woman’s true nature and malevolent motivations.