Blake's Tiger example essay topic

Blake's legendary poem "The Tyger" is deceivingly straightforward. Though Blake uses "vividly simple language" (Hirsch, 244), the poem requires a deeper understanding from the reader. There are many misconceptions concerning the symbols in "The Tyger" (specifically the tiger itself). This often leads to confusion concerning the underlying message of the poem. Compared to Blake's "meek" and "mild" lamb, the tiger is hard to accept. It is a symbol for that which people fear.

For some, their fears are not reality, and are much easier to ignore than accept. But no matter how hard to accept, the lamb and tiger are equally important, and together create a balance that is ideally healthy for the world. The Tyger can be interpreted through many different theologies, as a form of the sublime, and as an essential part of human life. Because Blake is ambiguous about the tiger's nature it is hard to understand. Blake uses paradox to his advantage in the first stanza, which creates an ambiguous effect: The expressions "forests of the night" and "fearful" have a menacing quality that is negative in nature.

On the other hand "bright" and "symmetry" (a sign of perfection) have positive overtones, and are more commonly associated with goodness. Blake has given many clues; and the effect is such that the reader is led to believe that the tiger has both good and evil qualities. The one underlying question that Blake asks of the reader: what God could "dare" (l. 24) to create such a creature?

According to the Christian doctrine, there is one God who is the maker of everything. Though there is much argument over how much He partakes in the creation of evil. Nonetheless, this passage is found in the Bible: "I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the Lord do all these things". (Isaiah 45: 7).

The tiger could very well be the expression of this God. There are many other beliefs in the world besides Christianity within which the tiger can be proven to reside. Monotheism, for example, is the "belief in a single, universal, all-encompassing deity" (Wikipedia). This deity could also be the "immortal hand" that formed the Tyger. Manicheanism, one of the major ancient religions, uses the theology of dualism as its main principle. The Dualism doctrine can be said to "consist of two basic opposing elements" (Wikipedia).

In "The Tyger", these elements are the principles of good and evil. In Manicheanism, "these two powers were independent from each other, but in the world they were mixed" (Encyclopedia of the Orient). That is to say that good and evil would reside together in every living creature. Blake's tiger could also be an example of the Manichean way of thinking. Though the religions of Christianity, Monotheism, and Manicheanism (and many more) are quite different in the details of their teachings, they are based on the same general principles. The basis of the majority of religion relies on the existence of good and evil in order to sustain the reasoning behind their beliefs.

The tiger, which displays both characteristics, can be a confusing creature for the human mind to accept. On one hand, the "symmetry" (l. 4) of the tiger is attractive, but on the other hand, its potential "deadly terror" (l. 16) is appalling.

There is an inherent difficulty in absorbing such a paradox, but the effect of experiencing both at the same time can be referred to as 'sublime'. The Tyger is a perfect example of the sublime. Basler said that the tiger was a creature that "convey [ed] terror before a symbol of power to harm". (12) Paley, in relation to this, states that "terror is in all cases whatsoever, either more openly or latently the ruling principle of the sublime".

(78) Blake does an excellent job of conveying terror in the Tyger. As readers form a mental image of the blacksmith who "dares" (l. 24) to create the tiger, they might experience (in a diluted form) an idea of the sublime. As Paley stated, "the chief effect of the sublime is 'astonishment. ' [It is] that state of the soul, in which all its motions are suspended, with some degree of horror". (78).

Whether readers choose to appreciate the sublime is based entirely on personal choice. However, one must remember the sublime is something from which experience is drawn. And, if experience is a positive thing, then the sublime is also. It is impossible to fully understand the "The Tyger" without also considering another of Blake's poems, "The Lamb". The Lamb" comes from the Songs of Innocence and "The Tyger" from Songs of Experience, and both poems reflect these qualities. "The Lamb" is "a poem which exclude [s] all genuine terror from life" (Hirsch, 245).

To be in a state of innocence does not include the knowledge of the extent of terror, or the ability to observe the sublime. And, if one did gain this kind of knowledge, it would bring him or her to a state of experience. Though some believe that the state of innocence is the better of the two because of its lack of undesirable knowledge (such as terror), this is a foolish perspective. Ironically, it is only when one becomes experienced in life that they will fully understand the value of innocence. The value then of "The Tyger", is that if we understand it, we can truly understand and appreciate "The Lamb".

Likewise, with an understanding of 'evil', comes a deeper appreciation for 'good'. The opposite energies of the tiger and lamb can not only be appreciated, but are even seen as necessary in the Taoist way of thinking. The chief principles of Taoism are the Yin and Yang. The Wikipedia states that in the philosophy of Yin and Yang, "neither side is more important than the other; indeed, neither can exist without the other, as they are ultimately aspects of the same whole. They flow into each other. They complete each other.

It is a balance". The terms 'good' and 'evil' are not used to describe the Yin and Yang. Rather, opposing forces are categorized as either Yin or Yang. For instance, oppositions such as male-female, stillness-movement, or light-dark can all fit into the Yin Yang.

Likewise, the opposing tiger and lamb can be seen as Yin and Yang. They can only exist because the other is present; they are equal and create balance. And, even if one is more present at one time, the other is never completely gone. Eventually, the lesser principle will become the greater; it is a continuous cycle. Blake was fascinated by this balance of opposites. For it is found both in the world, and in the human psyche.

According to Basler, Blake was "most appalled by the extremes of the human psyche, love-hate, trust-fear". (13) The tiger and Lamb could very well be symbols for these 'extremes of the human psyche' that Basler talks about. Blake was certainly not the only person to have recognized these extremes. Shakespeare, in his play Henry V, comments as well: In peace there's nothing so becomes a man As modest stillness and humility, But when the blast of war blows in our ears Then imitate the action of the tiger ( . i 3-6) Many find it hard to accept that "modest stillness" and the "action of the tiger" are equally healthy states of being. But keeping in mind the Yin and Yang, they can only exist together, and not as single entities.

Each is a necessary part of life. Similarly, the tiger is a very essential part of life. In "The Tyger", Blake wonders about the tiger's creator: "Did he smile his work to see?" (l. 19) Hirsch has this to reply: "It could be a satanic and sadistic smile, but it could also be the smile of the artist who has forged the richest and most vital of possible worlds, a world that contains both the tiger and the lamb". (250) Ultimatley, the reader must make the decision whether the tiger is a positive or negative part of life.

Bibliography

1. E.D. Hirsch, JR. Innocence and Experience: And Introduction to Blake USA: Yale University, 1964.
2. The Holy Bible containing The Old and New Testaments, King James Version Toronto: Canadian Bible Society. 3. "Dualism", "Monotheism", "Christianity", Manicheanism", "Taoism" Wikipedia. web Page. 4. Roy P. Basler. "The Tyger: A Psychological Interpretation" Sex, Symbolism, and Psychology in Literature. New Brunswick: Rutgers University Press, 1948.
20-24.5. Morton D. Paley, "Tyger of Wrath". Twentieth Century Interpretations of Songs of Innocence and of Experience. Ed. Morton D. Paley. USA: Prentice-Hall, Inc. 68-926. "Manicheanism" Encyclopedia of the Orient web William Blake. "The Tyger", Literature: An Introduction to Reading and Writing. E.V. Roberts and H.E. Jacobs 7th Ed. USA: Pearson Prentice Hall 2004.