In my paper I attempt to break down a barrier that restricted the interpretation of the
most prominent Romantic poet in the Maltese literary context. My rereading of some
of Dun Karm’s poems goes against the conventional perception that always construed
the national poet as the paradigm of the local Romantic era and, as a consequence,
as the anathema of a feminist approach vis-à-vis the female characters he depicts in
his poetry. Often, critics classify authors into rigid categories that hardly leave any
possibility for reinterpretation; however, Thompson, in “Errors and Labors: Feminism
and Early Shakespearean Comedy” inquires how even Shakespeare, considered by
some as a chauvinist playwright, can also be assessed in this new light. The freeing
from the liberal ideology that ironically fosters prejudices towards poets like Dun Karm
could pave the way for considering the innovative idea that a male poet’s expression
may also be “feminine.” Mellor in Gender and Romanticism, introduces the concept of
“feminine Romanticism” and suggests that this does not pertain exclusively to female
writers; she explains how poets like Keats expressed feminine feelings in his verses. As
Shakespeare and Keats are being reread, I propose the same for Dun Karm.peer-reviewe
