The Garden of Love: Themes & Linking Poems

“The Garden of Love: Key Quotes”.

“I went to the Garden of Love / And saw what I never had seen” - The poem ominously commences. The repetition of the phrase ‘Garden of Love’ in the following lines highlights its significance.
“And the gates of this Chapel were shut” - The closed doors symbolize the denial of love and pleasure, tied to religious restrictions.
“And ‘Thou shalt not,’ writ over the door” - This is a direct reference to the Ten Commandments in the Bible, particularly the prohibitions (“Thou shalt not..”), symbolizing the oppressive nature of organized religion.

William Blake was both a painter and a poet, known for his symbolistic and emotive portrayal of themes like love, innocence, and religion.
This poem falls under ‘Songs of Experience’ in his two-part series, ‘Songs of Innocence and Experience.’ Here, Blake explores the harsh realities of life often masked by innocence.
Blake was against oppressive institutions, including the church, which he felt stifled the natural human spirit. Therefore, the poem can be seen as a critique of organized religion.
The pervasive theme of loss of innocence aids in understanding the shift from a joyful, unrestricted garden to a confined one wrapped in piety and restrictions.