William Blake and the Victorian Era, Free Essay Sample

The Victorian Age literature entered a new period after the revival of the romantic period. The literature of the Victorian Era expressed flowing fusion of pure romance through gross realism. The period is remarkably known for its superb illustration of prose forms in most of the writings. However, being the most significant English novel age, it was thickly plotted, long, realistic and crowded with characters to give it an ideal form to entertain the middle class as well as describe the contemporary life. Most of the writings here were full of overflowing humor, drama, plot complications and numerous varieties of characters. Notably, the novels in this era are idealized stressful lives portraits in which love, perseverance, and hard work are rewarded at the end while the wrongdoers are being punished. However, in William Blake's writings, important such writing style characteristics are exceedingly portrayed. For instance, Blake employs discoveries of science to heighten the effects of his book upon the age of literature. This paper focuses on examining the relationship of William Blake's writings and its relationship with crucial writing styles which were common during the Victorian Age. It also captures the literary critics and the perceptions of Blake's works.

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The personality and poetry of Blake mark the inception of the Romantic Age. The syntax and language preferred for poetry were reasonably straightforward. Blake adopts the naive style of writing which is typical of children's songs, hymns, and ballads. Most of his songs have the intention of being read together while trying to show the two contrary states exhibited by the human soul. This was a simple illustration which was evident during the Victorian Age where most writers portray a purely ideal life. Though Blake tried to mingle with most forms of the Victorian Era writing, his poetry was challenging of the complex symbols which he uses. For instance, in his poem, "The World of Innocence," the perfection is attributed to the Garden of Eden with figures such as the child and the lamb to represent Christ. The illustration tears apart some of the world experiences and exposes the writing to critics from mastermind world. Similarly, the relation who is exhibited between two states of mind or societies shows that none is superior though they can co-exist in a similar situation or within the same person.

Additionally, the Victorian era is regarded as an age of pessimism and doubt. It is associated with the massive scientific influence which is caught in the man's conception of ideas based on the evolution of ideas. The age is also characterized as materialistic and practical where most writers embrace high ideals such as love, brotherhood, truth, and justice. William Blake emphasized these approaches to ascertain his writing based on a purely ideal life to illustrate its art forms. However, from the Walt Whitman influence, Blake became the father of all modern free verse. For instance, in his poem "The Tyger," Blake employs repetitive, innovative syntax and sweet sounds to help in framing severe questions about the nature of creation and religion. His questioning about the morals of God creates a dominant and ambiguous space to allow readers to explore the hidden meaning (Blake 34). This illustrates the theory of altruism where literary writings are used to distinguish between reality and perceptions. Interestingly, Blake's choice of styles in poetry not only satisfies major literary critic theories but also acts as the beginning of reactions against all traditional forms of violence. Politically, the method favored both the American and French revolutions.

Literary Critics during William Blake's Time

During the Victorian era, critical theories were used to reflect an ideological upheaval which was shared within the society set up. Through new advances in empirical science, nature was called to question to shape new methods of writing (Sand and Andrew 24). Most of the art forms were subjected to general cultural feelings and anxieties. As a result, literature was examined based on the relationship; it had on other modes of discourse such as art and science among others. However, in poetry and novels, the rationale was based on the kind of feelings which such writings have on the audience. Paper was subjected to mental state which the speaker the viewer in a while rendering the work (Patten 11). The speaker must address similar issues although the analysis may have a different perspective. In the "Song of Innocence," an illustration of the child reveals that literary witting exploits all form of nature which is around a specific setting.

Additionally, during William Blake's era, art and literature had a significant overall impact on the well-being of the society (Blake 34). Tone and language were used as the primary source of feeling creation between what is being seen and what the readers attain (Cooper 145). Similarly, literature was used to convey an eternal and profound truth about the condition of humans and how such situations are manifested for explicit correlations. The combination of works with objective criticism during this era was aimed at moving the culture towards a moral, spiritual and intellectual perfection. Most literary writings address societal anxieties regarding the threat to religion and new science by proposing that poetry should be viewed for inspiration and grim reality buffering. Notably, the period was juxtaposed with significant concerns on the development of an aesthetic movement which pivoted belief in religion and morality.

Moreover, most versions of poems during this period were direct with particular literary devices. Clear diction was used to fill elegant figurative styles which might be absent in the art form. For instance, in his poem, "our Immortal Day: Song of Innocence" the radical vision was not viewed as a condition which belongs to childhood alone but portrays a state where a human being is fully integrated (Cooper 134). This is further illustrated in the dialectical relationship which is exhibited between experience and innocence. The narrator was also more objective as compared to other periods. This shows that Blake's writing was only geared towards creating a hegemonic relationship between human influential concerning other mimicked illustrations which are common in the Victorian era. Critics ascertain that the relationship that exists between literature and society must have an impact on the overall work.

Furthermore, in terms of society shape up, William Blake uses religion an illusion to create a clear exposition for readers. The illustration shows the preoccupation of with mortality in the Romantic era which was embraced by most authors was aimed at meeting challenges which are presented in the dismal world view. However, the notion was rejected to acknowledge as well as examine the isolations which most literary writings went through in the process of transition to the next period or movement.

Conclusion

The writing styles and personalities of Blake acted as the beginning of the Romanticism. His violent reaction against traditional literary forms did the later writings to embrace an explicit outlook which is simpler to read and understand. The body of most of his literary works was large and extremely dense with fused complications to heighten illustrations. Notably, according to critics, most of Blake's writings were ahead of his time in several ways, thus allowing transformation from societal and religious influence. Overall, the use of direct and concrete literary devices reduces underlying conditions which the work exposes readers to in their attempts to fathom their meanings.

Works Cited

Blake, William. William Blake: Selected Poetry. Oxford University Press, 2019.

Cooper, Andrew M. William Blake and the Productions of Time. Routledge, 2016.

Patten, Eve. "Ireland's' Two Cultures' Debate: Victorian Science and the Literary Revival." Irish University Review 33.1 (2013): 1-13.

Sandy, Mark, and Andrew Radford. "Introduction: Romanticism and the Victorians." Romantic Echoes in the Victorian Era. Routledge, 2017. 13-26.