Selflessness in “The Lamb” and “The Tyger” William Blake is more different than others. He is humbled to help the people around him learn to love art as much as he does. His passionate desire for art is shown through his actions and his artwork, such as his poems. Blake shows the importance of being a successful leader in the world. In William Blake’s poems “The Lamb” and “The Tyger", his selfless character is evident through his life, career, and poetry. William Blake uses his life to help inspire others. Harold Bloom gives a detailed description of William Blake’s desire to be a leader: Visionary and irascible, Blake was very much a man of the eighteenth-century. He strongly reacted against many of its hallmarks and he profoundly responded to it in and by his art, perhaps most tellingly by his focus on contraries. The eighteenth century was a contrary of contraries. Science, philosophy, politics, religion, manufacture were all undergoing attack, redefinition, and development.” (28-29)
He was born in London on November 28, 1757. His parents are Catherine and James Blake, and he is one of 7 children (“William Blake”). From a very young age, Blake talks about having “visions.” Most of these visions are with God and angels. “From early childhood, Blake spoke of having visions—at four he saw God “put his head to the window”; around age nine, while walking through the countryside, he saw a tree filled with angels” (“William Blake”). At first, these “visions” worry his parents because they began to accuse Blake of lying to them; however, his parents quickly realize he is different from other children, and they do not make him attend school with other “normal” children his age. Instead, he is taught reading and writing at home (“William Blake”). Because of his love for art, Blake attends drawing school and also writes poetry by the time he is twelve. When Blake is fourteen years old, art school is not an option for him because it is too expensive; nevertheless, he decides to continue his art career and apprentice with an engraver. Blake continues this inspiring career for seven years (“William Blake”). “Blake’s combined arts of poetry and engraving embody his views of nature. Every plate exists independently to offer within itself a specific statement on the inadequacy of the perspective depicted” (Paananen 164). Blake’s art classes and mentors inspire him to become an artist. His father, a shopkeeper, helps spark the desire in him to become a leader in the work force (“William Blake”). For a few years, he works with his friend, James Parker, at a printshop as an apprentice. When this does not work out, Blake continues with his engraving and illustrating. “In 1784 he set up a printshop with a friend and former fellow apprentice, James Parker, but this venture failed after several years. For the remainder of his life, Blake made a meager living as an engraver and illustrator for books and magazines” (“William Blake”). Blake believes everyone has the liberty to change the world; however, very few try to. “Blake’s definition of genuine liberty requires that we reject the illusion of humanity’s having a place in the separated, crudely materialistic “nature” that the empiricist investigates” (Paananen 163). He thinks that this world is not as great as life will be, and one day we will be spending eternity in a place much greater than where we are now. “We must learn to trust the intuition of the Songs of Innocence that humanity belongs to a better world than this one” (Paananen 163). Because of his desire to help inspire others, William Blake works for people other than himself. In 1782, William Blake falls in love with Catherine Boucher, a woman who could not read nor …show more content…
In “The Tyger”, however, Blake exemplifies that a leader must also be strong and bold in what they believe. He teaches that in order to get the attention of others, one must be confident; however, not so bold and confident that others are being hurt instead of being helped. Blake also uses imagery in “The Tyger.” He uses words such as: burning, fire, and furnace. These words create an image of bold and confidence. Blake is bold in his art work and actions and comes across as a relentless
He was born in London on November 28, 1757. His parents are Catherine and James Blake, and he is one of 7 children (“William Blake”). From a very young age, Blake talks about having “visions.” Most of these visions are with God and angels. “From early childhood, Blake spoke of having visions—at four he saw God “put his head to the window”; around age nine, while walking through the countryside, he saw a tree filled with angels” (“William Blake”). At first, these “visions” worry his parents because they began to accuse Blake of lying to them; however, his parents quickly realize he is different from other children, and they do not make him attend school with other “normal” children his age. Instead, he is taught reading and writing at home (“William Blake”). Because of his love for art, Blake attends drawing school and also writes poetry by the time he is twelve. When Blake is fourteen years old, art school is not an option for him because it is too expensive; nevertheless, he decides to continue his art career and apprentice with an engraver. Blake continues this inspiring career for seven years (“William Blake”). “Blake’s combined arts of poetry and engraving embody his views of nature. Every plate exists independently to offer within itself a specific statement on the inadequacy of the perspective depicted” (Paananen 164). Blake’s art classes and mentors inspire him to become an artist. His father, a shopkeeper, helps spark the desire in him to become a leader in the work force (“William Blake”). For a few years, he works with his friend, James Parker, at a printshop as an apprentice. When this does not work out, Blake continues with his engraving and illustrating. “In 1784 he set up a printshop with a friend and former fellow apprentice, James Parker, but this venture failed after several years. For the remainder of his life, Blake made a meager living as an engraver and illustrator for books and magazines” (“William Blake”). Blake believes everyone has the liberty to change the world; however, very few try to. “Blake’s definition of genuine liberty requires that we reject the illusion of humanity’s having a place in the separated, crudely materialistic “nature” that the empiricist investigates” (Paananen 163). He thinks that this world is not as great as life will be, and one day we will be spending eternity in a place much greater than where we are now. “We must learn to trust the intuition of the Songs of Innocence that humanity belongs to a better world than this one” (Paananen 163). Because of his desire to help inspire others, William Blake works for people other than himself. In 1782, William Blake falls in love with Catherine Boucher, a woman who could not read nor …show more content…
In “The Tyger”, however, Blake exemplifies that a leader must also be strong and bold in what they believe. He teaches that in order to get the attention of others, one must be confident; however, not so bold and confident that others are being hurt instead of being helped. Blake also uses imagery in “The Tyger.” He uses words such as: burning, fire, and furnace. These words create an image of bold and confidence. Blake is bold in his art work and actions and comes across as a relentless