Analysis on W. Blake
As William Blake wittily comments, "those who restrain desire, do so because theirs is weak enough to be restrained," The Marriage of Heaven and Hell sneers at restrictions and advocates appeasing sensuous desires that are condemned by orthodox Christian belief. Blake masterfully makes an argument that promotes the gratification of the senses by literally using textual imagery and visual illustrations that appeal to the reader's senses. Hence, as Blake makes an argument for the goodness of satisfying and even overindulging the senses, he stimulates them simultaneously with his constant reformulation and reproduction of sensual images. Blake's forceful use of imagery involves a combination of fiery scenes and heavenly descriptions, the use of allusion to evoke memory in the Proverbs of Hell, and illustrative plates that combine heavenly and apocalyptic images in his attempt to reconcile the notions of good and evil, and to a greater extent, recreate the Christian notions of "evil," into good. Therefore, imagery is not only used to convey his argument, but becomes the embodiment. In Blake's "Argument," ostensibly, not much is really established pertaining to a definite claim, what is established however, is a mental image of
Hence, Blake's view of Religion is likened to the brutal and morally incorrect nature of slavery. Blake's attempt to recreate the mythology of Christianity is not seen more explicitly than in the Proverbs of Hell which imitates the Book of Proverbs in the Old Testament. In addition, when he uses the imperative, (i. ]And at length they pronounced that the Gods had ordered such things. "dip him") Blake is giving himself the level of superiority as the new Creator, in commanding that the senses, in this case taste, be indulged. Blake supports the idea of learning through experience instead of restricting with "Prisons [that] are built with stones of Law, [and] Brothels with bricks of Religion," which inadvertently, by restricting, lead people into temptation for what they cannot have. Unlike Alexander Pope which warns against surpassing limitations, Blake uses the idea that, "one truth is clear, whatever is, is right," to justify his argument for overindulging the senses. ] Dip him in the river who loves water," he maintains an authoritative voice. To say Blake maintains an authoritative voice is actually quite an understatement, because in reality, Blake is the sheer imitation of God himself, as he like God is the creator of Proverbs. But beyond the idea that gratifying the senses is a work of God, and therefore must be good, is the pervasive idea that excess leads to wisdom-that the senses are necessary for the growth of reason. However, once again, Blake inverts the meaning to suit his argument that Christianity is wrong in condemning sensual desires and excessive indulgence. The style and syntax of the Proverbs of Hell retains the same form as the actual Book, and adopts the same imagery such as the harvesting metaphor.
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Acceptance Essays
