Analysis on The Clod & The Pebble by William Blake
The Clod and the Pebble is a poem that Blake wrote to show the stark contrast between two very different personalities. This poem exemplifies Blake's usage of dialectic opposites, the extremes of two sides, but specifically in the same poem. The clod and the pebble have extremely contrasting views on love - the clod views it as altruistic and compassionate while the pebble sees love as a selfish emotion.The clod is described as "trodden with cattle's feet" meaning that he has been repeatedly trampled on, yet he does not seem to mind that this is going on. He accepts that the purpose of his very existence is to be stepped on by higher beings. The clod's song of love is full of optimism and hopefulness. He is the voice of innocence in the poem. He sings that "Love seeketh not itself to please, / Nor for itself hath any care", indicating to us that he thinks love is selfless and that a lover would do many things just to please the people he loves. Love to the clod is good, and forever giving. The clod goes further to explain that love "for another gives its ease", he is telling us that a lover would give up many aspects of his life to be with the one he loves. Love is altruistic in this situation and no other feeling or emotion c
He enjoys a life that is far more peaceful than the one that the clod lives. This poem's intention is not so much as to promote Blake's judgment on love, but as an instrument to provoke the readers into forming their own opinions regarding the subject. The attitude of the pebble is very much different from that of the clod. This suggests that by viewing love in these two vastly different ways, eventually we will still survive. Parental love allows parents to forgive their children no matter what situation they get themselves into. On the other hand, the views of the pebble tend to make readers think that he is someone who has endured the pain and suffering of bad love affairs far too often. The pebble warbles his verse about love, "But a Pebble in the brook / Warbled out these meters met". The attitude of the clod is very much like that of a loving parent, he is willing to be trodden over and used. He is suspicious of everything and tries to see the evil behind anything that may have an outer skin that is innocent and pure, including love. The views of both the clod and the pebble are justified and reasonable. The Clod of Clay is a strong believer in a selfless love; it sees it as a wonderful thing that brings happiness and joy to those who are involved. He is not ambitious and does not seem to want to alter his position in such a way that he may be superior to others around him. He strives to better himself and ultimately gain control of his own fate.
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