Knowt
Authority in Blake's Songs of Innocence and Experience
Authority
Blake both criticises authority and welcomes it, when not corrupt. The institutions of the church are heavily criticised for the corrupt authority they hold, given to them by society. Blake instead believes society should give more authority to God, a less corrupt figure when not being manipulated by the institutions. Authority isn’t necessarily a negative thing, but is used by humanity to manipulate and control.
SOI: Holy Thursday
Beneath them sit the aged men, wise guardians of the poor.
sense of hierarchy
Priests have authority rather than care - Blake ironically foregrounds the children rather than the priests to criticise their priorities when they have the authority to help these children rather than parade them.
SOI: The Chimney-Sweeper
And the angel told Tom if he’d be a good boy, He’d have God for his father, and never want joy.
authority using religion to manipulate
The absent parents of the child is used by the “angel”. Blake describing how religion is used to tamper with society’s expectations of fulfilment.
SOI: The Little Girl Found
They look upon his eyes, Filled with deep surprise, And wondering behold A spirit armed in gold.
lion is a majestic and spiritual figure of authority
Ethereal transformation symbolises regality and otherworldly presence. Spirit = divine or supernatural presence
God is the only trustworthy figure of authority?
SOI: The Shepard
The Shepard’s sweet lot!
God as an authority figure
Natural imagery of Shepard and their sheep, not in a controlling way, but a guiding way as he follows the sheep, not the other way around. Blake saying authority figures should be comforting and nurturing rather than oppressive and manipulative.
SOE: Holy Thursday
Fed with cold and userous hand?
authority figures cold and userous
Authority figures aren’t the focus in this poem. Focus is on the voiceless oppressed, giving them a voice from a place of observation, whilst subtly criticising the authority oppressing them.
SOE: The Chimney-Sweeper
Who make up a heaven of our misery.
authority benefiting from misery and suffering
Privilege of those in power at cost for those who suffer.
Criticises idea that suffering is virtue for afterlife.
SOE: A Little Girl Lost
To thy father speak. Oh the trembling fear! Oh the dismal care, That shakes the blossoms of my hoary hair!”
fear at father figure of authority, either God or bio father
Completely juxtaposes the joy and love in the beginning of the poem. In nature, the true form of God, there is not shame in sex, but in society, with corrupt authority, they shame you for sex to an extreme that has people trembling in fear.
SOE: Introduction
Hear the voice of the bard!
commanding authority
Imperative command, tone of reverence and introduces themes of prophetic vision and divine communication.
Authoritative figure that preaches the messages of SOE, not necessarily negative?
SOE: Earth’s Answer
Selfish father of men.
God or father figure of the earth?
Female work of delight has been destroyed by this jealous father figure, authority’s constant oppression of women?
SOE: London
Runs in blood down palace walls.
Authority within humanity, hierarchy
Metaphorical resented of soldier’s hood suggests palace owes its existence to the soldier’s bodily sacrifice. Critique of warfare. Top of hierarchy - monarchy - benefit from sacrifice of those below.
