Socio-Political Critique within Blake’s Poetry
William Blake was an influential poet, painter and printmaker who lived in London in the late eighteenth century. He criticized the way in which society was structured and the spiritual and moral corruption that he believed had infiltrated it.
The political tone of his work was profoundly expressed in the poem ‘London’, in which he describes a city plagued by poverty, inequality and discontent with lines such as ‘Every black’ning church appalls’, ‘In every voice, in every ban’, ‘The hapless soldier’s sigh’ and ‘mind-forg’d manacles’. He denounces the subjugation of the poor and oppressed and presents the hardships and utter bleakness of their existence.
The poem ‘Holy Thursday’ reveals the hypocrisy of the times and is a stinging critique of the rigid English class structure and Church of England’s belief of ‘idolatry’. Blake muses on the notion of innocence and questions why it is considered a childlike quality, as he believes that adults should also maintain this pure and simple state of mind.
Blake represents the effects of the 18th century Industrial Revolution in many of his poems. He perceived the factories as nightmarish and oppressive, seeing them as places of suffering. The poem ‘The Chimney Sweeper’ is a poignant example, depicting the effects of the poor working and living conditions with haunting lines such as ‘So your chimneys I sweep, and in soot I sleep’, ‘For when the nights were long; their mere Tom would falsely say’ and ‘And because I am happy, & dance & sing,/ They think they have done me no injury.’
Blake saw war as a destructive force and he devoted a great deal of his work to opposing it. His admonishment of conflict was expressed in the poem ‘The Ghost of A Flea’, with lines such as ‘These are the heavens, below is a deep pit of idolatry’ and ‘What pain shall breed his cruelty.’ By using grotesque imagery, he criticised the actions of the ruling class and their disregard for the lives of ordinary men, who were manipulated into war.
The Influence Of More Traditional Genres
Though William Blake’s work was heavily influenced by the 18th century socio-political climate, it was also shaped by more traditional poetic forms. His use of the English sonnet form is especially notable in works such as ‘London’, ‘The Divine Image’ and ‘The Sick Rose’.Blake was a strong believer in metrical verse and was highly critical of the poetic trend towards freer forms of speech, which he referred to as ‘genteel & fashionable’.
Blake was an advocate of ballad stanzas, which he believed to be the ‘most proper lyric form of English poetry’. He is perhaps best known for his use of the ballad form in poems such as ‘The Tyger’ and ‘The Shepherd’. In these works, twosyllabalic verse is employed as a means of expressing his themes of youthful innocence, fear and delight. His rhythmic verse often featured extended metaphor, personification and simile; used to capture feelings and ideas.
Blake was also highly influenced by the bible, particularly in his depiction of religious themes and the presence of a spiritual presence in his poetry. He uses Christian imagery to explore the notion of a higher being, as in lines from ‘The Lamb’ such as ‘Little lamb, who made thee/Dost thou know who made thee’, and ‘Little lamb God bless thee’. His belief in the power of forgiveness and grace is evident in his works and often carries a profound sense of spiritual truth.
Themes of Transcendence and Nature in Blake’s Poetry
Though the themes of socio-political critique and traditional forms influenced William Blake’s poetry, there were two dominant themes that feature strongly in his work. Blake believed in the power of the imagination and often wrote of a spiritual or supernatural dimension that he felt existed beyond the physical realm. The poem ‘Auguries of Innocence’i sala vivid example of his exploration of this realm, as Blake reflects on the timelessness of creation and the interconnectedness of life.
The presence of nature in Blake’s writing is also very apparent. He was a great advocate of the ecological aspects of the natural world and wrote often of the beauty, innocence and frailty of nature. The poem ‘To see a world in a grain of sand’ is a classic example and encompasses Blake’s belief that we need to protect and nurture the planet and its resources. Such views are still applicable and relevant today.
The themes of transcendence and nature are underpinned by Blake’s view that life should be enjoyed, full of joy and imagination, rather than ruled by conformity and the restraints of society. His philosophy is best illustrated in the poem ‘The Fly’, in which he encourages readers to seek knowledge and understanding and explore the wider universe beyons their limited physical reality.
Adaptation and Relevance of Blake’s Poetry
William Blake’s work has stood the test of time and is still highly relevant today. His poetry has influenced a great many writers and has been adapted into myriad forms, including film and art. Blake’s themes of innocence, nature and imagination are as important as ever and his work has been the source of inspiration for many people.
In recent years, Blake’s works have been reimagined in ways that were never imagined in his lifetime. For example, popular TV series Doctor Who incorporated many of his ideas into the story arc of its main character, The Doctor. The show explored Blake’s concepts of spirituality, transcendence and duality of experience to its own narrative.
The influence of Blake is also evident in the music of many contemporary artists, from the dream-like world of Kate Bush to the polished soul of Womack and Womack, through to David Bowie and his classic hit ‘Heroes’. His vision of a better world is still as relevant as ever, and his writings are more powerful for their continued relevance.
William Blake’s Humanitarianism
William Blake was a humanitarian who passionately argued for the rights of the oppressed and was highly critical of those in power. He believed in the power of empathy and sought to bring people together by reminding them of their shared humanity. His poem ‘The Human Abstract’ powerfully expresses his views on the corrosive effects of injustice and inequality on society with lines such as ‘Pity would be no more,/If we did not make somebody Poor;/And Mercy no more could be.’
Blake also critiqued the institutionalized racism and oppression of minority groups, as can be seen in his poem ‘Little Black Boy’. Through the eyes of a young black slave, it explores the notion of racial discrimination and exploitation.
Blake’s views on religious discrimination and intolerance led him to write the poem ‘The Everlasting Gospel’, in which he argues that love and understanding will always overcome fear and hatred. He believed in the power of faith, but warned that it could be perverted by those in authority, urging readers to look for spiritual truth beyond the confines of organized religion.
Motifs Of Sexuality And The Subconscious Mind
William Blake’s work was not just concerned with physical, tangible themes; it explored the hidden recesses of the human mind, dealing with topics such as sexuality, morality and emotion. The poem ‘The Clod and the Pebble’ is an example of this, examining the nature of love, with the two characters representing polar opposites. It was written as an allegory for how the power of emotion can manipulate a human being’s judgement.
The poem ‘Ah! Sun-flower’ is a meditation on the nature of love and longing, in which the speaker’s desperate yearning for union is contrasted against the idea of perpetual longing: ‘Ah, Sun-flower, weary of time,/ Who countest the steps of the Sun;/ Seeking after that sweet golden clime,/ Where the traveller’s journey is done’.
The ‘Songs of Innocence and of Experience’ is a prime example of Blake’s exploration of the innermost depths of the psyche, revealing his thoughts on what it means to be human. He rejected a single, unifying definition of man and believed that individuals were complex and multifaceted. He thus wrote of the different faces of humanity, with both light and dark aspects.
Conclusion
William Blake was an innovative and provocative poet, who utilized traditional poetic forms, political and social themes, religious motifs, nature and the themes of transcendence and the subconscious mind to explore the human condition. His work is still relevant and pertinent today and is often interpreted and adapted in new and creative ways. Blake believed strongly in the power of imagination and inclusivity, and his writings remain a powerful source of inspiration and insight.
