The Evil and The Innocent

In this course we studied two poems by author William Blake, including “The Tyger” and “The Lamb”. "The Tyger" is from “Songs of Experience" while "The Lamb" is from "Songs of Innocence". This which would lead readers to think that the two of these poems are related to joy, love and a righteous relationship with God; however, this is not the case.

“The Tyger” is a serious and dark poem questioning the nature of the creator: it is asking who could create such a terrifying and twisted beast of an animal. The writer is basically questioning the creator’s sanity when he says “What the hammer? What the chain? In what furnace was thy brain?” comparing the creator to a blacksmith. Tigers are often associated with aggressiveness and the evil in the world. The whole poem keeps readers alert and focused like one would be if they came face to face with a tiger. The poem leaves us in awe, as none of the questions are answered.  It questions how a God that made this physically frightful, evil animal, the tiger, could also create a beautiful, innocent little lamb.

“The Lamb”, on the other hand, is the opposite of “The Tyger”. The writer has a very relaxed and gentle tone in this poem as he talks about a “little lamb”. He does not leave readers with any unanswered questions and tells how “he is meek and he is mild”: words that are associated with quietness and peacefulness, which is exactly what lambs are known to be like. The word “lamb” reminds me of the children's nursery rhyme, “Mary had a little Lamb”, where the lamb was innocent and did no wrong with intention. This poem is reflecting on the questions that “The Tyger” asks about their creator. Words that are used in the poem are often words that are related to innocence and gentleness, including “God”, “little child”, “softest” and “delight”.

The two of these poems are questioning the creator of both the lamb and the tiger. Though two very opposing animals, the writer reminds us that they were both created by the same God. This shows us the magnitude of God’s power as he can create two extremely different types of creatures. “The Tyger” symbolizes strength and power, which contrasts with “The Lamb” and its symbol of weakness and innocence. You would expect all contents of “Songs of Innocence" and "Songs of Experience” to be about innocence and positive experiences with God, however  it is ironic to see the writer question the nature of God, who is the creator of both the aggressive tiger and the innocent little lamb.

Image from

 http://fc03.deviantart.net/fs70/i/2010/013/3/4/The_tiger_and_The_Lamb_by_paras2e.jpg