Concetti Chiave
- William Blake, born in London in 1757, was a radical thinker who criticized industrialization and drew inspiration from the Bible, viewing artists as guardians of spirit and imagination.
- Blake's artistic style was influenced by Michelangelo, characterized by exaggerated forms and flowing lines, while rejecting neoclassical conventions to emphasize imagination over reason.
- In his prophetic works, Blake created a personal mythology to critique social injustices and authority, portraying Heaven and Hell as interconnected elements of the human soul.
- The poem "The Chimney Sweeper" uses simple language with symbolic irony to critique religious institutions, illustrating the plight of orphaned children in society.
- In "The Lamb," the lamb symbolizes purity and divine presence, contrasting with "The Tyger," which embodies wildness and sublimity, highlighting the duality of human nature and the divine.
Life of William Blake
LIFE - Born in London in 1757, Blake was a radical and supported the French Revolution. He thought that industrial development had evil effects on human soul, so he believed in the character of the artist as a guardian of spirit and imagination. He was very religious because of the community of craftsmen around him, and his main fount of inspiration was the Bible, as its complete scheme presented a total vision of world and story. He died in London in 1827.
Artistic Influences
ARTIST - His paintings were influenced a lot by Michelangelo, especially for exaggerated muscular forms, and his experience of engraver gave them a feature: a sinuous flowing line. Blake didn’t respect the conventions of the age about proportions, and created a painting which gave power to imagination.
POET - He rejected neoclassical literary style and themes. He underlined the importance of imagination over reason and thought that ideal forms should come from inner vision, not from observations. His main works are Songs of Innocence (1789) and Songs of Experience (1794). They are two parts of human soul, apparently in contrast, but coexisting at the same time. Innocence is identified with childhood, experience with adulthood. In the Songs of Innocence the language is simple and musical - Probably written before French Revolution, while Songs of Experience during the Terror at its height.
Prophetic Books
PROPHET - Blake also wrote some prophetic books in which he created his personal mythology and invented his own characters to reflect on social interests and denounce authority. The first was The marriage of Heaven and Hell (1790), a prose work, mixture of aphorisms, anecdotes and proverbs [Satan - Hell represented liberty, Heaven was the place of lawgiving]. Desire and energy gain supremacy over reason. Heaven is a condition for satisfaction, Hell represents bad events of life, but also revolution - they are contraries which need to be reconnected, as they are part of the same soul.
THE CHYMNEY SWEEPER - Songs of Innocence 1789
The Little Chimney Sweep
Being small, children (orphans) could climb up and down chimneys. Simple language, which hides symbol and images. Important element of irony about church and religious power - the boy is told to be good by the angel, but he was left by his father when very young; so the angel deceives the boy but he cannot help him → church seen as an agent of injustice.
THE CHIMNEY SWEEPER - Songs of Experience 1794
The Little Chimney Sweep - Experience
In this version negative elements prevail on positive ones - More negative words used (Crying, woe, death, injury…).
LONDON - Songs of Experience 1794
Here it is strong the sense of opposition to institutions (like marriage, described with a hearse) and returns the Chimney Sweeper, as a character symbol of social decline. There are quotations from the Bible (I wander at the beginning).
THE LAMB - Songs of Innocence 1789
The Symbolism of the Lamb
Symbol of purification, in many countries it is used for sacrifices (conventional symbol of Christ). While the Tyger means cruelty and wildness, the lamb is meek and mild → contraries return. God is present from the beginning; he is a positive presence, he cares about creatures. “Bless” represents directly God. The child is close to the origins, so very close to God.
THE TYGER - Songs of Experience 1794
(Animal of Tyger → Strong, violent, wild, can’t be controlled, but beautiful → SUBLIME)
There are questions all over, without answers → MISTERY. The power of fire can help to bring the light of reason over the darkness of ignorance, but it has also a destroying power, like revolution. The poem has a hammery rhythm, made strong by the troquée _ _ and by short, repeated questions. The poem remembers two myths, Daedalus and Icarus, who tried to fly, and Prometheus, who tried to steal the sacred fire of reason. “The poet is a visionary and a prophet”.
POET → Someone who teach others to go over reality and reconcile the two parts of human soul.
PROPHET → A leader, someone who achieve the truth; the prophet is between God and his creatures.
Domande da interrogazione
- How did William Blake's views on industrial development influence his artistic philosophy?
- What were the main influences on Blake's painting style, and how did he deviate from artistic conventions of his time?
- How do Blake's "Songs of Innocence" and "Songs of Experience" reflect contrasting aspects of the human soul?
- What role does irony play in Blake's poem "The Chimney Sweeper" from "Songs of Innocence"?
- How does Blake's poem "The Tyger" explore the theme of duality and mystery?
Blake believed that industrial development had detrimental effects on the human soul, which led him to view the artist as a guardian of spirit and imagination. This perspective shaped his artistic philosophy, emphasizing the importance of imagination over reason.
Blake's paintings were heavily influenced by Michelangelo, particularly in the use of exaggerated muscular forms. His experience as an engraver contributed to his distinctive sinuous flowing lines. He deviated from the artistic conventions of his time by disregarding traditional proportions, thereby empowering imagination in his work.
"Songs of Innocence" and "Songs of Experience" represent two contrasting yet coexisting aspects of the human soul. "Innocence" is associated with childhood and features simple, musical language, while "Experience" corresponds to adulthood, marked by more negative elements and complex themes.
In "The Chimney Sweeper" from "Songs of Innocence," irony is used to critique religious institutions. The poem highlights the disparity between the angel's promise of goodness and the harsh reality faced by the boy, symbolizing the church as an agent of injustice.
"The Tyger" explores duality through the contrasting symbols of the lamb and the tiger, representing meekness and wildness, respectively. The poem is filled with unanswered questions, emphasizing mystery and the dual nature of fire, which can illuminate reason or unleash destruction, akin to revolution.
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