James Kriz
English 220
Prof. Nick Jones
10/6/2011
Blog Entry 3:
Blake’s “The Tyger”, A Devil’s Creation, or the Devil Himself?
William Blake formulates a powerful, seemingly immortal vision of the Tiger. “Thy fearful symmetry” (4), in describing the Tiger Blake juxtapositions perfection with that which creates fear. This in itself is interesting to wonder about, considering that perfection is something not often associated with an unsettling, or negative emotion. Yet Blake is speaking of perfection, authored by a hand that is perhaps not God’s. The animal appears to be a gatekeeper to a realm far from heaven. The line “In the forest of the night” (2), supports this idea, with the footnotes drawing a reference to the realm that leads to Hell in Dante’s Inferno. The reference to Lucifer’s possible involvement as creator of the Tiger can be found in the final lines of the poem, “What immortal hand or eye,/ Dare frame thy fearful symmetry?” (23-24). Blake is questioning what immortal being could have created such a creature, could it have been Lucifer?
Yet if the poem is examined in a different light, could the tiger be a symbol for Lucifer? This would change the final lines of the poem to a question of God’s creation. A question that ponders how God could create such an imperfect, or fearsome being.“Did he who made the Lamb make thee?” (20), Blake continues to question the established conception of Heaven and Hell, wondering how God could make both Jesus (“the Lamb”) and Lucifer, and if he could, what sense would it make? Whether the Tiger be a creation of Lucifer or an embodiment of the Devil himself, Blake is asserting a certain perfection burning bright within this creature. This perfection is counter to what Catholic Religion might color the gates of Heaven with, yet that is perhaps the point. Blake views Lucifer and the evil of Hell as something of real perfection, something more in line with the imbalance of the human being than the idealistic model of Heaven.
English 220
Prof. Nick Jones
10/6/2011
Blog Entry 3:
Blake’s “The Tyger”, A Devil’s Creation, or the Devil Himself?
William Blake formulates a powerful, seemingly immortal vision of the Tiger. “Thy fearful symmetry” (4), in describing the Tiger Blake juxtapositions perfection with that which creates fear. This in itself is interesting to wonder about, considering that perfection is something not often associated with an unsettling, or negative emotion. Yet Blake is speaking of perfection, authored by a hand that is perhaps not God’s. The animal appears to be a gatekeeper to a realm far from heaven. The line “In the forest of the night” (2), supports this idea, with the footnotes drawing a reference to the realm that leads to Hell in Dante’s Inferno. The reference to Lucifer’s possible involvement as creator of the Tiger can be found in the final lines of the poem, “What immortal hand or eye,/ Dare frame thy fearful symmetry?” (23-24). Blake is questioning what immortal being could have created such a creature, could it have been Lucifer?
Yet if the poem is examined in a different light, could the tiger be a symbol for Lucifer? This would change the final lines of the poem to a question of God’s creation. A question that ponders how God could create such an imperfect, or fearsome being.“Did he who made the Lamb make thee?” (20), Blake continues to question the established conception of Heaven and Hell, wondering how God could make both Jesus (“the Lamb”) and Lucifer, and if he could, what sense would it make? Whether the Tiger be a creation of Lucifer or an embodiment of the Devil himself, Blake is asserting a certain perfection burning bright within this creature. This perfection is counter to what Catholic Religion might color the gates of Heaven with, yet that is perhaps the point. Blake views Lucifer and the evil of Hell as something of real perfection, something more in line with the imbalance of the human being than the idealistic model of Heaven.
Hadn't thought of it that way. Cool.
ReplyDeleteGreat pic. Definitely, the fearfulness of perfection (or self-declared perfection) is in play here.
ReplyDelete