William Blake: A Critical Essay

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

35995

Title

William Blake: A Critical Essay

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

Algernon Charles Swinburne's critical essay offers a profound exploration of William Blake's life, art, and visionary genius. It delves into Blake's rebellious spirit, his unique fusion of text and design, and his rejection of conventional morality. The work serves as both a tribute to Rossetti and an essential guide to understanding Blake's enduring legacy.

Summary up to 500 words

In his critical essay *William Blake: A Critical Essay*, Algernon Charles Swinburne presents a comprehensive defense of William Blake (1757–1827), arguing that while the poet and artist was largely unrecognized during his lifetime, his genius was supreme. Swinburne portrays Blake as a man of absolute faith who lived a 'long dim life of labour,' rejecting the materialist norms of his era, the 'teapot pieties' of Cowper, and the infidelities of Paine alike. The essay details Blake's fiery independence, particularly during his residence at Felpham under the patronage of Hayley. Swinburne illustrates the inevitable friction between Blake's rebellious spirit and Hayley's conventional tastes, noting that while Hayley acted as a prince initially, he ultimately sought to cage the 'bird of foreign feather' within a flock of tame geese. Swinburne analyzes Blake's major works, including *Songs of Innocence*, *Songs of Experience*, *The Marriage of Heaven and Hell*, and the prophetic books like *Jerusalem*, *Milton*, and *Europe*. He explains Blake's complex mythology, where figures such as Los represent time, Albion is the father of races, and Urizen signifies restrictive law. For Swinburne, Blake's art was not merely illustrative but a vehicle for a 'gospel of deliverance.' The essay emphasizes Blake's unique ability to blend text with minute design, creating a visual poetry that transcends ordinary understanding. Addressing contemporary criticisms from figures like Stothard and Schiavonetti, Swinburne dismisses them as lacking the capacity to comprehend Blake's sublime vision. He argues that these critics failed to see the infinite spiritual life lurking within fleshly forms. Ultimately, Swinburne portrays Blake as a visionary who urged readers to look beyond material appearances to grasp the 'bread of sweet thought' reserved for an elect few, celebrating a man who was perfectly unfit for any path but his own and possessed by a fervour that defied the critical reason of his age.

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Categories

• Biography
• Poetry
• Art