William Blake and The Garden of Love Essay -- Garden of Love Essays

William Blake and The Garden of Love    At first glance, the poetry of William Blake may appear simplistic; he writes most often in regular metrical rhythm, apparently sticking to the rules, blunt observations on such mundane subjects as tigers, lambs and roses.   But if one were to finish with Blake and move on, left with only these initial impressions, it would be a great pity; true enjoyment of this poet can only come about through some understanding of his life, background, and skill in the manipulation of the tool of simple lyrical poetry, to convey deeper meaning.    Amongst his admirers, Blake is considered something of a renaissance man, a frustrated and hugely gifted artist and writer, a social renegade, and something of a true western mystic.  Ã‚   For our purposes here, it is sufficient to know that throughout his adult years he struggled with ideas of correct government, church corruption, unfair taxation, and Christian thought, to the point of near-lunacy.   Blake was born in London in 1857, and while still in his early teens (under 14) began privately writing poetry that is considered of high caliber.    Blake ¹s family had the wherewithal to send him to a  ³drawing school ² when he was ten, and he there began formal training in art.   He was greatly influenced by the art of the Renaissance world, and later wrote about his early total comprehension and appreciation of it.  Ã‚   He continued his formal education in art, and was apprenticed and working successfully in that world by his twenties.    But at heart Blake was a lover of words, and inclined to express his impressions of life through the pen as easily and readi... ...who would be helpful figures normally - are blindly making their rounds dressed in black.   Black is the color of death, deception, the villainous, of loss of hope, of the opposite of innocence.    It would be a mistake to read the poem as a comment on an individuals experience with the vision of a dream.   Blake always has many layers in mind: one should remember that    Blake's own mind was enormous, and capable of juggling various meanings simultaneously.   Especially where Church, Innocence, Death, and such images as demonic priests are involved, one can count on the hint of commentary on society at large.    "The Garden of Love"   stands as an excellent example of Blake ¹s ability to use simple meter and language as a foundation, and then twist the foundation ever so subtly to induce a particular idea.