In his poetry, William Blake asks the fundamental question “Dost thou know who made thee?” (Blake 8). Addressed to the lamb about whom the poem “The Lamb” is written, this line highlights the key idea that is explored in William Blake’s poetry about the unknowable and contrary nature of God. By examining the very different use of symbolism in “The Lamb” and its companion poem “The Tiger”, this essay will argue that Blake uses different approaches to demonstrate the different aspects of God, and to encourage his reader to consider the relationship between maker and creation.
Blake describes these two radically different creations through symbols that appeal to the senses of the reader. For example, when he writes about the lamb, he describes God having made it “softest clothing, wolly, bright” (Blake 8). Here, the tactile use of “wolly” implies the softness and gentleness of the lamb, while the word “bright” suggests that the lamb’s innocence can be seen as a whiteness so pure that it shines. Here Blake takes the classic symbol of Jesus – the lamb – and gives it a form that makes it seem tangible to the reader. Similarly, when he describes the tiger, Blake makes symbolic reference to the brilliant colours of the tiger’s fur when he describes it “burning bright” (Blake 39). The symbolism of fire is continued throughout the passage, such as when Blake writes of “the fire of thine eyes” (Blake 39). Just as with the brightness of the lamb, the symbolism of light is used to portray the magnificence of God’s creation. However, unlike in “The Lamb”, the magnificence of Blake’s tiger is not gentle, but as frightening and dangerous as fire. The contrast between these two opposing symbols of light is to suggest to a reader both the benevolent and the threatening power of God.
In a similar way, the symbols Blake uses to describe God himself show different aspects of God in these two poems. In “The Lamb”, the lamb himself if made an explicit symbol for Jesus as the son of God when Blake writes: “He calls Himself a Lamb / He is meek, and He is mild” (Blake 8). This symbol references God’s role as the protector of mankind, who – through his Son sent to Earth for slaughter and rebirth – embodies gentleness, innocence, and love. By contrast, Blake portrays a different aspect of God altogether when he describes the being capable of producing the magnificent and deadly tiger. He asks: “what shoulder and what art / Could twist the sinews of thy heart?” (Blake 39). Here Blake uses the symbol of the blacksmith to describe God as a powerful being, using force and strength to physically construct this awe-inspiring animal. Continuing the symbolism of fire that began with “burning bright” (Blake 39), the image of the blacksmith suggests a God who, far from being meek and loving towards humanity, delights in using his strength to produce a creature both beautiful and deadly – a creature indifferent to and alien from humanity. This symbolism emphasises not God’s sympathy and connection to humanity, but his power and superiority.
Finally, Blake’s symbolism in describing the act of creation itself shows different aspects of God in each poem. In “The Lamb”, Blake focuses not on the creation of the lamb itself, but on the miracle the lamb symbolises – that of sending his son to Earth to die for humanity. When Blake writes “He became a little child” (Blake 8), he indicates that the act of creation – including the creation of a creature as gentle as a lamb – is an act of humility and sacrifice, whereby God rendered himself vulnerable to the cruelties of humanity in order to offer salvation. His use of the symbol of the lamb is therefore made specifically to suggest to readers that God’s act of creation is humble. Conversely, the act of creation in “The Tiger” is describes as if God were challenging himself and testing his strength. As well as the symbolism of fire, Blake references the Greek legend of Icarus when he asks: “On what wings dare he aspire” (Blake 39). The symbolism here of wings suggests creation is an act of ambition, and the reference to Icarus – who fell from the sky when he tried to fly too high – suggests that for anyone less than God to attempt the creation of the Tiger would lead to disaster.
It seems clear when comparing the symbolism in both poems, that “The Tiger” presents a more complex and experienced perception of God the Creator than that in “The Lamb”. While “The Lamb” is included in Blake’s earlier collection entitled Songs of Innocence, “The Tiger” appears in the later collection Songs of Experience, in which Blake deliberately references ideas from the earlier collection, offering new perspectives on them and insights into them. This is clear in “The Tiger” when he references “The Lamb”, asking “Did he who made the lamb make thee?” (Blake 39). The symbolism in “The Tiger” is more developed and specific than that seen in “The Lamb”; rather than the classic and well-worn symbol of God as a lamb, which is taken directly from the Bible, Blake provides his own symbol of fire and forging, which is rich in human and tactile imagery. This more specifically human symbolism suggests that Blake is interested in understanding God’s connection to humanity more deeply, and in understanding the relationship that exists between God the creator, and humanity, his creation.
- Blake, William. Songs of Innocence and of Experience. Stilwell, KS: Digireads.com Publishing, 2005. Print.
