William Blake is one of the most influential poets of the Romantic period. His poems contain a unique blend of spiritualism, symbolism and mysticism, making them both captivating and thought-provoking. They tackle themes like imagination, freedom and innocence, invoking powerful emotions in readers. But what is Blake’s poetry mainly about?
Through his works, Blake expressed his deep-seated beliefs of a universe containing timeless truths, and explored the complex relationship between reason and faith, life and death. He wrote hymns, elegiac poems, and satires reflecting his views on religion and morality. His works also feature a strong element of nature, with images of birds, trees and animals populating his lyrical landscapes. In essence, Blake’s poetry is about mankind’s relationship with the universe and our attempt to comprehend it.
Roald Hopkin, a professor at the University of California, remarks that, “Blake was a rare genius in that he saw the world not in rigid structures, but in the shifting bearers of truth. He embraced chaos, yet had faith in a greater logic underlying the sensory shell of the universe. He believed that the spiritual realm could be explored and integrated using the power of human creativity.” Through his writings, Blake sought to show readers the interconnected nature of the world and the eternity that enfolded them.
Blake also believed that through creativity and imagination, it was possible to transcend the physical limitations of the natural world and unlock powerful truths of the universe. This concept is evident throughout his works, with many of his poems incorporating images of angels, gods, and other mythical figures alongside tangible elements of nature. Blake was especially critical of religious institutions and the institutions of government, seeing them as repressive forces that stifled the natural human desire to explore and to think freely.
It is no surprise then, that Blake’s poetry speaks to themes of freedom and exploration, while often containing a message of spiritual rebellion. As he stated himself in the famous verse from The Marriage of Heaven and Hell: “See a World in a Grain of Sand/And a Heaven in a Wild Flower/Hold Infinity in the palm of your hand/And Eternity in an hour.” By these words, Blake promoted the idea of understanding the world in all its complexity and of actively seeking for answers that transcend our existing understanding.
Religion and Politics in Blake’s Poetry
Blake was a fierce critic of the two major pillars of 18th century social and political life—religion and politics. In his poetry, he frequently challenged cultural conventions, such as the established doctrines of the Church of England and the harshness of life under the British monarchy. His poem “London” is a vivid example of this, as it paints a grim picture of emotional suffering at the hands of a repressive government. By contrasting images of loneliness and misery with visions of beauty and possibility, he pictures a world in distress, but ultimately suggests the possibility of redemption through imaginative exploration.
Even more stridently, his poem “The Garden of Love” is a criticism of the established Church, which governs through fear and force rather than inspiring love and understanding. Here, Blake does not levy a specific critique against any one religious institution, however. Rather, he makes a broader statement about the coercive nature of religious institutions as a whole. He seems to suggest that faith should come from within, and should not be manipulated or coerced.
Love and Innocence in Blake’s Poetry
Love and the idea of innocence are also recurring themes throughout Blake’s work. In his Songs of Innocence, for example, Blake speaks to the power of innocence and its potential to bring hope and comfort in a world full of pain and injustice. By pairing his innocence poems with those of experience, he reinforces the power of loving innocence in spite of a cruel and unjust world. Through these works, Blake seems to suggest that love and innocence have within them the power to heal and to renew. He also seems to imply that if we embrace and nurture our own innocence, we can ensure that the world we inhabit is just.
In the poem “Infant Joy”, Blake celebrates the joy of innocence, praising the beauty and the potential of a baby. He speaks of the joy felt in the baby’s being—the potential of what the child may become—and celebrates the joy and the beauty of life. This poem takes a more positive view of innocence—that it is something to be embraced and cherished, and not necessarily a sign of naiveté or ignorance. Indeed, for Blake, innocence was symbolic of potential, of possibility, and of hope.
Political Satire in Blake’s Poetry
Blake’s politics often denounce oppressive systems that were in place during his lifetime, such as the British monarchy, but his works also often take a wry, rather than a straightforward, approach to politics. His satire, for example, targets both the individual and the institutions of British power. His poems “The Tyger” and “The Garden of Love” are direct attacks on the oppressive nature of Christianity and monarchy, respectively. “The Tiger” is a vivid image of danger and brutality, and a powerful indictment of the use of fear to control people. Meanwhile, “The Garden of Love” mocks the prayer-based solutions offered by Christianity, as well as its emphasis on love instead of justice or morality.
Blake also wrote a number of political satires, skewering British politicians and the policy decisions they made. For example, his poem “The Little Black Boy”, one of his most famous works, is a scathing commentary on racial inequality and the subjugation of African Americans in the United States. Through the poem, Blake reveres the innocence of the black boy, and challenges the hypocrisy of the slave traders and the masters who kept them in bondage.
Humanity and Mysticism in Blake’s Poetry
By exploring and celebrating the potential of the human soul, Blake’s works also cover themes of humanity and mysticism. In poems like “The Little Black Boy”, and “The Divine Image”, he speaks to the divine potential of humanity, and encourages a deep respect for human life and its potential for greatness. His poem “The Divine Image” is particularly poignant in this regard, as it speaks of the many ways that humanity can find beauty, joy and peace. Through his works, Blake speaks of the power of love and of divine closeness.
Similarly, in his longer poems such as “The Marriage of Heaven and Hell”, “Milton”, and “Jerusalem”, the reader is exposed to Blake’s unique spiritualism and mysticism. In these works, Blake intertwines themes of deity, morality, and eternity in a way that moves beyond conventional religious images and instead tries to unearth deeper truths. By combining poetry, scripture, and philosophy into these works, Blake attempts to bridge the chasm between reason and faith.
Nature in Blake’s Poetry
But perhaps the most prevalent theme in Blake’s poems is nature. Nature makes frequent appearances in Blake’s works, often without the expectation of adoration, but instead to illustrate themes of fragility and mortality. Through his exploration of the natural world, Blake speaks to the fleeting beauty of life and love, as well as the need to appreciate the present because of its finite nature. His poems use images of nature to explore complex philosophical concepts, as in his poem “The Lamb”, or to impart wisdom and knowledge, as in his poem “The Garden of Love”.
In his poem “The Auguries of Innocence”, for example, Blake uses nature to show the deep connection between human experience and the environment. He sees man’s relationship with nature as symbiotic, and in doing so, speaks to the importance of nurturing and protecting the natural world—a concept that is no less relevant today. Lastly, Blake’s use of nature suggests a unified understanding of the universe, with all its creatures, plants, and objects connected to each other in a complex, mysterious system.
Conclusion
William Blake’s poetry is captivating and unique, with a mix of philosophy and symbolism that lends itself to a wide range of interpretations. Through his works, he aimed to provide readers with a window into his universe of spiritualism and mysticism, showing his audience the interconnectedness of all things, and the potential to find truth and understanding in the depths of the universe. His works are timeless pieces of literature that still speak to readers today.
