# Hermes — Poetry character guide

> Hermes in Poetry by John Keats.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Maia Mother of Hermes, youthful Maia, Too gentle Hermes, thou, Thee, thee, thy

**First appearance:** 0052-ii

## Snapshot

The winged messenger god who scours valley and wood for a hidden nymph, only to find a serpent whose honeyed words may trade one desire for another.

## Who they are

Hermes burns with a celestial heat from his winged heels to his golden hair, flying from vale to vale, breathing passion upon the flowers, yet finding his sweet nymph nowhere. Pensive and full of painful jealousies of the Wood Gods and even the trees, he is halted by a mournful voice from a dazzling, woman-mouthed serpent who claims she dreamed of him. His restless longing makes him the poem's first seeker, and his bargain with Lamia sets the whole story in motion.

## In the story

### [Endymion](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_14_se/chapters/endymion)

Hermes is referenced in a simile comparing Endymion's ravishments to Hermes' pipe.

### [A Song of Opposites](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_14_se/chapters/a-song-of-opposites)

Referenced as 'Hermes’ feather' alongside 'Lethe’s weed' as symbols of opposing forces.

### [Fragment of an Ode to Maia](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_14_se/chapters/fragment-of-an-ode-to-maia)

Referenced as the son of Maia, the goddess being addressed.

### [A Dream, After Reading Dante’s Episode of “Paolo and Francesca”](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_14_se/chapters/a-dream-after-reading-dante-s-episode-of-paolo-and-francesca)

Mentioned as the god who took to his feathers light and lulled Argus.

### [Lamia's Transformation and the Meeting with Lycius](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_14_se/chapters/i)

The god who grants Lamia her wish to become a woman again in exchange for help finding his nymph.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_14_se/characters/hermes
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_14_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_14_se/characters