Coexist

Joesph Crawford explains the elusive style of “The Tyger” by comparing it to the parallel song “The Lamb” in his article "Of Lambs and Tygers: Joesph Crawford Succembs to the questioning spirit if Blake's Tyger rather than seek to confine its meaning." “The Lamb” is from the collection Songs of Innocence, and is written from the perspective of a child, resulting in a more simple poem that provides answers for the questions posed; were as “The Tyger” has less solid material that would unravel its meaning, making it more abstract and difficult to interpret. By dissecting each poem verse by verse, Crawford points out the contradicting ideas and conflicting content presented by both poems. Mirroring the Songs of Innocence to the Songs of Experience,  “The Lamb” and “The Tyger” fit together like a puzzle, but produce questioning and doubt, “First, while ‘The Tyger’ consists only of questions, ‘The Lamb’ consists of a series of questions followed by a series of answers. The crucial question, in each case, is ‘who made thee’”(Crawford).  This shines light on the ambiguity of Blake’s songs of experience; focusing on “The Tyger” causes a sense of disturbance and confusion about the creator, leaving the reader responsible for his own interpretation.  “The Tyger” is mysterious not because of how it was made, but why it was made;  it is easy for a child to believe a god made a meek, mild animal, but it is difficult to comprehend why a god would make an animal that is designed to injure and kill.  If a god did make the ‘tyger’, what does that imply about this god, is he amused by a violent animal placed on the earth with a defenseless animal? Or is there a God at all?  Crawford’s article leaves many questions open, only stating his direct opinion in few places.  Crawford also touches on the switch from innocence to experience in a child, suggesting that the change can start from within, like a growing idea or “fueled flame”, or the change can be started by an outside influence; either way, he coming of age is associated with loss of faith.

         Blake’s theme of innocence and experience is included in many of his short poems, but what is he trying to portray by dividing, then connecting his Songs of Innocence to his Songs of  Experience?  Crawford suggests that Blake’s doing this opens the door for other questions about the creator and the switch from innocence to experience.  I agree with many ideas in the article, but my thoughts differ when Crawford goes on to say that there is a possibility of two separate creators, and that a loss of innocence correlates with a loss of faith in a deity. Blake causes his readers to question if they believe in a god that can create an innocent animal along side an animal who is an experienced killer; while reading the Song of Innocence and Songs of Experience, I concluded that the same god did make both a meek and a vicious animal, and although he is humble and benevolent, he is also powerful and just, providing his creations free will to choose good or evil, causing the immorality. The switch from innocence to experience can produce a change in perception, no longer is the world simply good and evil, evil can be appealing and doing good can hurt. No longer can child like faith produce fulfillment, and myopic vision shelter from the corruption around.  As we grow older, we may lose our child-like faith, but we also gain knowledge; it may become more difficult to believe in bazaar miracles, including the belief of eternal life. With knowledge comes the realization that if there is no god to believe in, we have nothing but the corrupt world we live in.   Blake’s Songs of Innocence and Songs of Experience acknowledges both good and evil; faith and doubt causing the reader to ponder how and why both can coexist. Ultimately causing reflection on personal beliefs and morality.  I do not think there is one right answer to all the questions posed in Blake’s “The Tyger”, the goal is to challenge the reader to self evaluate who they are, taking in account their values and beliefs.