" Because he believed that that creation followed a cosmic catastrophe and a fall of spiritual beings into matter, Blake discusses Gnosticism, a multi-faceted religious movement that has run parallel to mainstream Christianity (Friedlander, 1999). Unlike most other Gnosticizers, Blake sees the world as a wonderful place, but one that would ultimately give way to a restored universe. For Blake, the purpose of creation is as a place for personal growth, in preparation for the beginning of our real lives. While the natural world contains much that is gentle and innocent ("Songs of Innocence"), those who are experienced with life ("Songs of Experience") understand that life can be terrible and frightening.

Blake's poem, "The Tyger," which finishes without an answer, is basically about our own experience of not getting a completely satisfactory answer to the important question of faith. It is aklso about having our reason overwhelmed at once by the beauty and the horror of the natural world. "When the stars threw down their spears / and watered heaven with their tears" is the most difficult part of "The Tyger."

According to Friedlander (1999): "For Blake, the stars represent cold reason and objective science. (They are weaker than the Sun of inspiration or the moon of love. Their mechanical procession has reminded others, including the author of "Lucifer by Starlight," of "the army of unalterable law"; in this case the law of science.) Although Blake was hostile (as I am, and as most real scientists are) to attempts to reduce all phenomena to chemistry and physics, Blake greatly appreciated the explosion of scientific knowledge during his era. But there is something about seeing a Tyger which you can't learn from a zoology class. The sense of awe and fear defy reason. And Blake's contemporary "rationalists" who had hoped for a tame, gentle world guided by kindness and understanding must face the reality of the Tyger."

The Tyger" poses a question: who could have dared to create a beast as terrifying as the tiger? (Blunt, 1959) Blake compares the creation of...

In the poem, Blake asks the question: 'Did he smile his work to see? Did he who made the Lamb make thee?' Blake implies that it was God who created both the gentle lamb and the dangerous tiger, but that he may regret having created such a mean beast as the tiger.
For Blake to pose the question of why God would create the ferocious tiger, he seemed to want his readers to consider what these two animals symbolize. A lamb is a symbol of innocence and goodness. A tiger symbolizes ferociousness, fear, and violence. These traits are often considered evil. Thus, Blake is dealing with a more universal concern: the problem of evil in a world created by God.

I would strongly recommend this poem to others, as it really makes you think about the meaning of the tiger as a symbol. We are all aware of the frightening aspects of human life, of the random violence that exists in this world. But most of us feel comfortable in lives that seem quite secure. "The Tyger" may be Blake's way of shocking us into looking at the fearful, fearsome, dangerous, and amazing experiences that exist. For this reason, I view this poem as one of his most important works.

Blake was not really appreciated during his lifetime (Blunt, 1959). He was left to later generations, particularly of the twentieth century, to understand his importance. We have the opportunity to enjoy his works and learn from them, and I recommend that everyone take advantage of this opportunity.

Bibliography

Friedlander ER (1999) Enjoying "The Tyger" by William Blake Retrieved at http://www.pathguy.com/tyger.htm.

Blake, William. (1991). Songs of Innocence and of Experience. Ed. Andrew Lincoln. From Blake's Illuminated Books, Vol. 2, General Ed. David Bindman. Princeton: Princeton University Press and the William Blake Trust.

Blunt, Anthony. (1959). The Art of William Blake. New York: Columbia University Press.

William Blake: Poems That Inspire