William Blake's "Proverbs of Hell" is a series of aphorisms that appear in his collection of poetry titled "The Marriage of Heaven and Hell." The proverbs offer a counter-argument to traditional religious beliefs and moral codes, presenting a vision of a world in which the traditional distinctions between good and evil are blurred.
One of the central themes of the "Proverbs of Hell" is the idea that the pursuit of truth and knowledge is often at odds with conventional morality. Blake argues that many of the beliefs and values that are considered virtuous and righteous are actually hindrances to true understanding. For example, he writes that "the road of excess leads to the palace of wisdom," suggesting that going beyond the boundaries of what is considered acceptable or appropriate can lead to greater understanding and enlightenment.
Another key theme in the "Proverbs of Hell" is the concept of creation and destruction. Blake suggests that creation and destruction are not necessarily opposites, but rather two sides of the same coin. He writes, "As the caterpillar chooses the fairest leaves to lay her eggs on, so the priest lays his curse on the fairest joys," implying that the things that are most prized and valued are often the ones that are most vulnerable to destruction.
In addition to these themes, the "Proverbs of Hell" also explores the idea of rebellion and the rejection of authority. Blake asserts that true freedom and individuality can only be achieved by breaking free from the constraints of society and its institutions. He writes, "The cut worm forgives the plow," suggesting that even the lowliest creatures have the capacity to forgive and let go of grudges, something that humans are often unable to do.
Overall, the "Proverbs of Hell" is a provocative and thought-provoking series of aphorisms that challenge traditional beliefs and encourage the reader to think for themselves and question authority. Its themes of truth-seeking, creation and destruction, and rebellion have made it a timeless classic that continues to resonate with readers today.
Notes for "The Marriage of Heaven and Hell"
To create a little flower is the labour of ages. Retrieved 4 August 2019. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press, 1993; Phillips, M. Choosing forms of worship from poetic tales. Blake believed he was personally instructed and encouraged by I know that our deceased friends are more really with us than when they were apparent to our mortal part. Magnus Ankarsjö notes that while the hero of Visions of the Daughters of Albion is a strong advocate of free love, by the end of the poem she has become more circumspect as her awareness of the dark side of sexuality has grown, crying "Can this be love which drinks another as a sponge drinks water? London: Continuum, 2006, pp.
Proverbs of Hell
As the air to a bird or the sea to a fish, so is contempt to the contemptible. Retrieved 11 August 2018. A fool sees not the same tree that a wise man sees. That God will torment Man in Eternity for following his Energies. Blake's "America, a Prophecy"; And, "Europe, a Prophecy". Where man is not, nature is barren.
William Blake, "The Proverbs of Hell" (excerpts) — Austin Woerner's Memory Palace
William Blake: The Critical Heritage. The weak in courage is strong in cunning. Ithaca: Cornell University Press, 1980. The lust of the goat is the bounty of God. But now, when passion should rule reason and people declared their independence, Satan appears to be the hero. All wholesome food is caught without a net or a trap. Certainly, religious concepts and imagery figure centrally in Blake's works.
William Blake, "The Proverbs of Hell"
As the air to a bird or the sea to a fish, so is contempt to the contemptible. The tygers of wrath are wiser than the horses of instruction. A Blake Dictionary Reviseded. Encyclopædia Britannica, whose entry on Blake comments that "the question whether Blake was or was not mad seems likely to remain in dispute, but there can be no doubt whatever that he was at different periods of his life under the influence of illusions for which there are no outward facts to account, and that much of what he wrote is so far wanting in the quality of sanity as to be without a logical coherence". Man has no Body distinct from his Soul for that calld Body is a portion of Soul discernd by the five Senses, the chief inlets of Soul in this age.
Blake claimed to experience visions throughout his life. The 'Heaven' and 'Hell' of William Blake. Excess of sorrow laughs. Thus men forgot that All deities reside in the human breast. Think in the morning. Plate 4, E34 The Body of Blake did not subscribe to the notion of a body distinct from the soul that must submit to the rule of the soul, but sees the body as an extension of the soul, derived from the "discernment" of the senses. Reprinted as: Blake, Jung, and the Collective Unconscious Nicolas-Hays 1986.
