William Blakes Life Essay Example

gardener, Blake spent his time both composing and engraving illustrated poetry. He also struggled to make a living as a contract engraver. His initial ventures into illustrated painting, such as All Religions Are One and There is No Natural Religion in 1788, built upon the satirical verse of An Island in the Moon from 1784-1785. However, it was in 1789, a year marked by the French Revolution and the Storming of the Bastille, that Blake's early masterpieces The Book of Thel and Songs of Innocence were created.

Between 1789 and 1800, Blake was incredibly active in his creative pursuits. During this time, he composed several works including The Marriage of Heaven and Hell, The French Revolution, America: A Prophecy, Visions of the Daughters of Albion, The Book of Urizen, the Songs of Experience, Europe: A Prophecy, The Book of Los, and The Four Zoas. These works encompassed elements of apocalyptic vision, political fervor, reinterpretations of Christian theology, and psychological exploration. Blake's intense creativity during this period was largely driven by his need to process the political upheavals occurring in Europe and America. To Blake, the American Revolution and the Declaration of Independence were representative of youthful rebellion against autocratic authority. He aligned himself with the American forces and immortalized them in his writings as participants in a cosmic battle between the authoritarian Jehovah (depicted as "Urizen") and the rebellious forces embodied by Orc.Blake viewed the French Revolution of 1789 as a comparable eruption of essential rebellion against the corruption of the 'Ancien Regime'. Like before, his sympathies aligned with the revolutionaries and their advocates, including Paine. In fact, he even assisted Paine's escape to France in

1793 when Paine faced the threat of arrest.

The British war with France in 1793 and the introduction of strict laws of civil obedience were seen by Blake as further examples of the control that Authority (Church and State) had over the common people. Like Wordsworth, Shelley, and Byron in later generations, Blake was politically both a Radical and a libertarian. However, he soon realized that the youthful rebellion that seemed promising for a new era of human consciousness quickly turned into bloodshed and anarchy during the Reign of Terror. This led to the imposition of stricter social control in both France and Britain. From 1794 onwards, Blake's works reflected his understanding of the paradoxes and complexities of rebellion. Nevertheless, his work also showed his unwavering commitment to equality in all forms (social, political, and sexual), liberty, and justice. In 1800, Blake moved to West Sussex where he enjoyed three peaceful years until a dramatic incident resulted in him being charged with sedition. In 1803, he was accused of high treason at Chichester for speaking out against a soldier he found urinating in his garden.

Blake returned to London in that year and resided there until his death in 1827. However, during the final 24 years of his life, he produced a significant amount of illustrated work and engravings, including the esteemed Milton (which he started in Felpham but completed in 1808) and Jerusalem (created between 1804 and 1820). Additionally, he illustrated versions of Dante's work and The Book of Job. Despite his prolific output, these later years were disappointing for Blake as he did not achieve the fame and recognition he desired. Financial struggles also persisted

throughout his life. Nonetheless, his unwavering dedication to reimagining Christianity and striving for a spiritual, psychological, political, and sexual revival remained constant. This involved rejecting the narrow moral teachings and traditional beliefs of orthodox Christianity, as well as envisioning a rebirth of Albion in the form of Everyman and England. Blake passed away in 1827 and was buried in a communal grave.