Holy Thursday (Experience): Poet & Context

“Holy Thursday (Experience): Poet & Context

William Blake

  • William Blake was an English poet, painter, and printmaker.
  • He was largely unrecognized during his lifetime but is now considered a seminal figure in the history of poetry and visual arts.
  • Blake was a fierce critic of institutional structures, including the church and the monarchy, and his works often tackle themes of repression, poverty, and social injustice.

Historical Context

  • “Holy Thursday” is a part of Blake’s ‘Songs of Innocence and Experience’, which were originally published separately in 1789 and 1794 respectively, and then published together in 1794.
  • The poems critique the harsh realities of late 18th and early 19th century England, particularly focusing on the plight of children.

Poem’s Context

  • This poem presents a stark contrast to its counterpart in the ‘Songs of Innocence’, presenting a more cynical viewpoint.
  • The ‘Holy Thursday’ in the ‘Songs of Experience’ gains a political edge, criticizing the established social and religions institutions of the time.
  • Blake uses the image of the children from charitable schools attending a service at St. Paul’s Cathedral to highlight societal hypocrisy and indifference towards the less fortunate.

Blake’s Beliefs

  • Blake’s beliefs were influenced by different spiritual and philosophical ideas, including Christian mysticism, the Enlightenment, and the Romantic movement.
  • While he rejected organized religion, theistic Satanism influenced his writings. He believed religious systems that promote guilt and control limit human imagination and potential.

Influence On The Poem

  • The context of Blake’s personal beliefs and the sociopolitical environment of his time heavily influence this poem.
  • His critique of the Church and society is evident in the cynical tone of the verse and the implied criticism of how charity is administered.
  • The circumstance of the children in this poem reflect Blake’s concerns about child labor, poverty, and institutionalized charity during the Industrial Revolution.