What is the meaning of fame in the poem "On Fame" by John Keats?

It’s hard to believe that John Keats wasn’t known as one of the most prolific romantic poets during his lifetime from 1795-1821. Upon his death at the tender age of 25 he had only published 54 poems, just a dip into the well of his genius.

(You can read all about his life here: https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poets/john-keats )

This background information is important to take into consideration when dissecting the meaning of fame in his poem On Fame. Understanding the poet is something that most reviews tend to leave out, but here let’s contemplate the theme as it pertains to the man.

Keats is seeing fame not just as a “a wayward girl, will still be coy” but the bigger idea here is that fame like most worthy aspirations in life truly can’t be bought or manipulated.

“She is a Gipsey,—will not speak to those
Who have not learnt to be content without her”

Fame, like the pursuit of a woman, will leave you hanging the more aggressive and dependent you become on attaining it.

“Make your best bow to her and bid adieu,
Then, if she likes it, she will follow you.”

Keats’ observation when looking at his personal struggles, becomes more like sage advice (or a fair warning) for anyone looking to create their identity through fame.

In the context of the poem, Keats is referring to man's lust for renown, the omnipresent desire to be noticed and admired by other people. He criticizes this attitude throughout the poem, contrasting it unfavorably with the simplicity and grace of the natural world. Man is forever restless and unsatisfied; he is always striving to achieve high status in the eyes of his fellows. In contrast, look at the rose, says Keats; she still shows off her extraordinary beauty, as well as her sweet fragrance, despite living and growing in a thorny briar patch and being fed upon by bees:

But the rose leaves herself upon the briar, For winds to kiss and grateful bees to feed.

The inference is that we must live according to nature, adjust ourselves to our surroundings and our environment, and learn to be grateful for what we have. For just as a ripe palm loses its ripeness when it is taken from a tree, so too do our lives lose their beauty when they are removed from their natural habitat and disfigured by the unhealthy obsession with being popular and having a good reputation. If we can remain in our original place upon this earth and learn to live at one with nature as the roses, the plums, and the bees do, we will lead more satisfying lives.