Jerusalem
Written during the 18th century, Jerusalem is regarded as one of the best poems of William Blake. What makes this piece exceptional is that it combines both fantasy and reality; while delivering a strong social and political message. More particularly, the poem employs several Christian allegories combined with social and political ideologies.
In the opening stanza, Blake uses fantasy in the questions that he posted. In the first line, for instance, he asks, “Did those feet in ancient time walk upon England’s mountains green?” (Blake 1). He continues his query by asking if the “Holy Lamb of God” was seen roaming on England’s pastures. Such question implores the idea that Jesus or the “Holy Lamb of God” travelled to England. It is in here that it becomes apparent that the writer uses fantasy or, to be more precise, allegory. That is, his questions are in fact referencing to the legend that the “sacrificial lamb” or Jesus entered the British land with Joseph of Arimathea. Blake continues his inquisitive remarks in the second stanza when he asks if Jesus’ divine presence “shine forth upon our clouded hills?” and if Jerusalem was created here among “these dark Satanic mills” (Blake 1). In these lines, the poet alludes to the biblical promise in the Book of Revelation in which the old earth is destroyed and a new earth will emerge in the form of a new holy land or New Jerusalem. Blake hypothesizes that England could be the New Jerusalem.
But apart from this wishful belief, the poet also injects reality in his piece. This is evident in the part where he mentioned about the “Satanic Mills” which is a symbolism of the exploitation of the laboring class during the Industrial age under the tyrannical rule of the monarch. In this piece, it becomes apparent that Blake loathes this era because of the injustices and materialism that bounded the land. At the last part of the poem, Blake reverses back to his mythical questioning by alluding to the “chariots of fire” and “swords” until “we have built Jerusalem in England’s green and pleasant land” (Blake 1). Such lines metaphorically denote action as it calls on the people to stand up against tyranny in order for the nation to be great once again.
Works Cited
Blake, William. Jerusalem