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 third son of a Lon arrogate 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 protest books. He spent most of his life inrelative poverty. He was very influenced by his brothers death whichhe claimed he saw ascend promised landward clapping its hands for joy whodied of function at the age of 20. He uses the illustrations andengravings in his work to express his visual, uncanny and psychicviews rough 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 rime The Tyger as he uses twainsymbols 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, similar to Blakessymbolic description of the French Reign of Terror. The Timesnewspaper talked about the Reign of Terror as a Tyger a tiger chaff the streets of Paris. This Tyger was used to symbolize thepower, machinery, evil, violence and energy of the revolutions goingon at this eon. The description Tyger Tyger burn 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 grand symmetry? whichhas a inquisitive tone, means that Blake is awestruck on what lovely of idol would want or allow the French Revolution. In the assist versewhich talks about Satans energy, it starts with a unbeliefing toneabout heaven or hell deeps or skies. The question Burnt the fire ofthine eyes is addressed 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 s ame 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 do 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 inevitably a bit of lamb (goodness,kindness, peace) and a bit of Tyger (power, strength).Blakes poems dont just speak about his current times nevertheless can apply