William Blake’s poems “The Lamb” and “The Tyger” describe {two contrary states of the human soul} with “The Lamb” reflecting the soul at an innocent state, and “The Tyger” reflecting the soul at a more experienced (and destructive?) state.
Blake’s poem “The Lamb” serves as a representation of a stage of innocence in one’s life, which encompasses purity, gentleness, and dependency. He describes the lamb as a docile, dependent creature with white, fluffy wool and a gentle voice, nothing out of the ordinary for a lamb yet some of these features function as symbols for the traits of an innocent stage in one’s life as well. Physically, the lamb’s white wool gives it a bright and clean appearance, similar to the Christian view of one’s soul under salvation or before the age of accountability, such as in the case of a young child. Since innocence is most often associated with children such symbols in “The Lamb” make the most sense when thought of in relation to children, such as their viewing of …show more content…
However, despite this betraying the speaker’s lack of sound belief it does suggest that this speaker has more mature and refined way of thinking, as he searches for facts and understanding of something much greater than himself. The most telling evidence of the speaker’s questioning of faith comes in the fifth stanza when Blake asks, “Did he smile he work to see? / Did he who made the lamb, make thee?” (lines 19-20). While the speaker of “The Lamb” assured the audience of God’s benevolence the speaker at hand seems to be encouraging the audience to consider and question the existence of evil and destruction in the
Blake’s poem “The Lamb” serves as a representation of a stage of innocence in one’s life, which encompasses purity, gentleness, and dependency. He describes the lamb as a docile, dependent creature with white, fluffy wool and a gentle voice, nothing out of the ordinary for a lamb yet some of these features function as symbols for the traits of an innocent stage in one’s life as well. Physically, the lamb’s white wool gives it a bright and clean appearance, similar to the Christian view of one’s soul under salvation or before the age of accountability, such as in the case of a young child. Since innocence is most often associated with children such symbols in “The Lamb” make the most sense when thought of in relation to children, such as their viewing of …show more content…
However, despite this betraying the speaker’s lack of sound belief it does suggest that this speaker has more mature and refined way of thinking, as he searches for facts and understanding of something much greater than himself. The most telling evidence of the speaker’s questioning of faith comes in the fifth stanza when Blake asks, “Did he smile he work to see? / Did he who made the lamb, make thee?” (lines 19-20). While the speaker of “The Lamb” assured the audience of God’s benevolence the speaker at hand seems to be encouraging the audience to consider and question the existence of evil and destruction in the