Written in tradition hymn-form, "The Lamb," one of the sections of William Blake's "Songs of Innocence," makes a statement about religion and the act of instruction. The aspect of innocence is maintained throughout the poem through its simple stanzas and seemingly naive speaker--the child speaks to a lamb who is unable to respond or carry on conversation. Great emphasis is placed on the confusion between the literal and figurative lamb, suggesting an inherent theological confusion in the scene of instruction. To further suggest confusion, Blake employs a double conflation of "name" and "lamb" in the second stanza, evident if you break down the rhyme scheme. Keeping the context of education in mind, the child appears to merely echo his mother's instructions and blindly teaches the lambs. This makes more of a general comment on the base of religiosity as a whole, implying that faith is basically mimetic. The engraving for this piece features a young child playing what seems to be the role of a shepherd. Thus, Blake subtly infuses the system of religion with ignorance.
As a mode of social commentary, "The Lamb" definitely highlights the flawed system of religious education in England, and Blake's use of repetition in the lines "Little Lamb who made thee" and "Little Lamb God bless thee" is reminiscent of the liturgy typical of the Catholic Church--an institution the poet despised. Like I mentioned in my own post, I think Blake makes a stronger case against social systems by speaking from the perspective of a naive child. By illustrating the child's accepting nature, Blake makes a statement about the need to question inherited social norms and faith.
ReplyDeleteI definitely remember singing a song with the words of "The Lamb" in Sunday school as a child so it's really amusing to recognize the message of social commentary upon reading the poem as an adult. It's quite ironic that I was blindly learned this poem as a part of my religious education. I definitely agree that Blake shows a hostility towards organized religion but I don't think he rejects the vales of the bible or the Christian God.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Laura that Blake is not rejecting the Bible or God; rather, he is working to show the problematic features of Christianity (obviously in "The Lamb" the naive acceptance of Christian beliefs represented by a child being the speaker and answering his own question). I think Blake is commenting that while God is "meek," "mild," and "child"-like (representing the positive qualities of Christianity), Blake is also critiquing Christian followers for being "meek" "mild" and naive for blindly accepting religious doctrine.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Aly and Laura, Blake doesn't seem to be completely disparaging the Christian religion. Rather, he laments blind obedience within the Christian Church, and draws attention to the irony of the disappearance of the peaceful, lamb-like qualities that had been exhibited by its namesake.
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