Belladonna Eye Drops for Dilated Pupils
Poet involved
What happened
By 1600, women in Europe began using belladonna eye drops, derived from the deadly nightshade plant, to dilate their pupils for a more attractive appearance. While this practice was intended to enhance beauty, it posed significant risks, including blindness and poisoning. The use of belladonna highlights the lengths to which individuals would go for beauty in the Renaissance, reflecting societal standards and the intersection of health and aesthetics.
Literary impact
The use of belladonna eye drops for dilated pupils around 1600 became a metaphor in Romantic and earlier poetry for dangerous allure and artificial seduction. Poets like John Keats and others utilized this imagery to explore themes of beauty and peril in their works.
Source: Wikipedia
