Summary
In my thesis I carry
out a close-reading of William Blake's The Book of Urizen.
My analysis observes the accordance between Blake's work and the hermetic
traditions, especially on the philosophical side. In my analyses I
draw immediate parallels between Blake's visionary work and the teachings
of various mystic and hermetic traditions and outline the obvious
correspondences of the two. My aim is not to find immediate historical
or referential links between the poem and the mystic teachings, but
to reveal the possible meaning of the visionary epic.
I wish to show the connections between Blake's visionary poetry as
art and formulated philosophies both depicting the same universal
truths. My point is to show the universality of the ideas expressed.
Therefore I draw immediate
analogies from the traditions and teachings of Gnosticism, Neoplatonism
and Greek mythology, the Sumerian and Persian mythology, Hermetic
philosophy, Alchemy and Occultism, the Kabbalah and Jewish mysticism,
and some Eastern examples from Hindu, Buddhist and Chinese philosophy.
I also draw parallels with the Bible and John Milton's Paradise
Lost.
Furthermore, I don't
only give a complex analyses of Blake's The Book of Urizen,
but also William Blake the visionary mystic. That is why chapters
I & II are included. Altogether my work is a tribute to the great
master of poetry, William Blake himself - the seer of universal truths.
The Book of Urizen is Blake's Genesis, and the core of his Bible of Hell, re-shaping
the Fall and the Creation of the physical universe. It is also the
locus for his mythology in 'A Song of Liberty', America, Europe, The Song of Los, The Book of Ahania and The Book of Los, all of which rest on the ideas presented in
this poem. Urizen, like Milton's Satan, was an angel enjoying the
immoral life, though among democracy of immortals. He is not cast
out for rebellion against law, but separates himself by demanding
that Law be established. Los, the immortal artist, emerges to define,
clarify and make sense of the disaster, by the power of imagination.
Blake works in many more allusions. Los becomes Adam, and Enitharmon
his Eve. Orc is born to her, like Cain, but also the Serpent.
The storyline of the
poem is as follows: Urizen - a god of Reason who separates himself
from other Eternals, demands obedience to his self-proclaimed principles,
and falls into Chaos - is an abstract, vain and punitive deity. A
body is created for him by , 'the eternal prophet' or Divine Imagination.
But Los, exhausted, divides into male (Los) and female (Enitharmon).
Their child Orc - who represents Rebellious Energy - is born but immediately
chained to a rock. Urizen then explores his deadly world, and mankind
shrinks up from Eternity. Finally, some of Urizen's children begin
an exodus.
Introduction
We should all be aware,
that the poetry of William Blake is of unparalleled scope and complexity.
Despite all the care and thought devoted to its preparation, this
paper may still fall short of some readers' expectations stemming
from the enormity and complexity of the subject, incurring the dual
risk of making seemingly unrelated and distorted statements while
leaving aside historical or cultural factors that some feel should
be included.
In my thesis I carry
out a close-reading of William Blake’s The Book of Urizen. My
analysis observes the accordance between Blake’s work and the
hermetic traditions, especially on the philosophical side. In my analyses
I draw immediate parallels between Blake’s visionary work and
the teachings of various mystic and hermetic traditions and outline
the obvious correspondences of the two. My aim is not to find immediate
historical or referential links between the poem and the mystic teachings,
but to reveal the possible meaning of the visionary epic. I wish to
show the connections between Blake's visionary poetry as art and formulated
philosophies both depicting the same universal truths. My point is
to show the universality of the ideas expressed.
Therefore I draw immediate
analogies from the traditions and teachings of Gnosticism, Neoplatonism
and Greek mythology, the Sumerian and Persian mythology, Hermetic
philosophy, Alchemy and Occultism, the Kabbalah and Jewish mysticism,
and some Eastern examples from Hindu, Buddhist and Chinese philosophy.
I also draw parallels with the Bible and John Milton's Paradise Lost.
Furthermore, I not
only wish to give a complex analyses of Blake's The Book of Urizen,
but also William Blake the visionary mystic. That is why chapters
I & II are included. Altogether my work is a tribute to the great
master of poetry, William Blake himself – the seer of universal
truths.
"And those
who have insight will shine brightly like the brightness of
the expanse of Heaven, and those who lead the many to righteousness,
like the stars forever and ever.
But
for you, Daniel, conceal these words and seal up the book
until the end of time. Many will go back and forth, and knowledge
will increase."
[Daniel 12:3-4]
|
Acknowledgment
I wish to thank Ágnes Peter for her undivided support and interest,
John Drew who has inspired me and encouraged me to go my own way,
and Ádám Nádasdy without whom I would have never
become a true scholar.
