Blake Being a Man of His Time :: William Blake Poets Poems 18th Century Essays

Blake Being a Man of His TimeWilliam Blake was born in 1757, the terzetto son of a London tradesmanwho sold knitwear (hosier). Blake lived in London which dominated muchof his work. He was a British poet, painter, and engraver, whoillustrated and printed his own books. He dog-tired most of his life inrelative poverty. He was very influenced by his brothers death whichhe claimed he saw ascend up clapping its hands for joy whodied of consumption at the age of 20. He uses the illustrations andengravings in his work to express his visual, spiritual and psychicviews just about the society he lived in.Blake was tuned to the huge social and political forces of the late 18thcentury. This can be seen in Blakes poem The Tyger as he uses twosymbols of revolution French Revolution and the Industrial Revolutionwhich both happened in the 18th century The title The Tyger is asymbol which was used in 18th century newspapers, uniform to Blakessymbolic description of the French Reign of Terror. T he Timesnewspaper talked about the Reign of Terror as a Tyger a tiger walk the streets of Paris. This Tyger was used to symbolize thepower, machinery, evil, violence and energy of the revolutions goingon at this time. The description Tyger Tyger burning bright is a punbecause burning could be seen to represent destructiveness whilstbright is a deep, powerful word for revolution. In the third lineWhat immortal hand or eye, Could frame thy fearful symmetry? whichhas a questioning tone, means that Blake is awestruck on what kind ofGod would want or allow the French Revolution. In the second versewhich talks about Satans energy, it starts with a questioning toneabout heaven or hell deeps or skies. The question Burnt the fire ofthine eyes is address towards Lucifer (the Devil). Verse two andthree shows the imagery of the industrial revolution In what furnacewas thy brain. Blake says God is a blacksmith who wrestles with powerand energy which is beneficial and at the same time destructive .In the fifth verseWhen the stars threw down their spearsAnd waterd heaven with their tearsDid he smile his work to see?Did he who made the Lamb make thee?This is saying that if there were only good and no evil, there wouldbe no good because there would be no comparison to what is good andwhats not. He basically says man needs a bit of lamb (goodness,kindness, peace) and a bit of Tyger (power, strength).Blakes poems dont just speak about his current times but can apply