William Blake: The Spirit Falcon
William Blake is one of history’s greatest poets. Many however, are unfamiliar with his work and what drove him to write the way he did. William Blake’s interesting life molded him into one of the greatest poets of all time.
William Blake was born in London in 1757 (William 1). William Blake was born into a middle-class family (William Blake Biography 1). “He was the third of 7 children, two of whom died in infancy. Blake's father, James, was a hosier. He never attended school, being educated at home by his mother” (1). Blake claimed to have visions when he was a young child. One night he claimed to have seen God press his head to the outside of his window and peer into his room at him. Another time while
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He is said to be the first poet to use his work as ideological weapons against society (…). Living during a time when many social changes were occurring, Blake used his work to express his anger toward the things going on around him of which he did not approve. His work encouraged victims of poverty during the time to rise up against the government and gave hope to those who were beginning to lose hope in a happier life. He also used his work to address scientists of the time, who discouraged imagination and restricted artists. As a result, many later poets and writers looked to him for inspiration in their own works. Among these poets and writers are William Butler Yates and Walt Whitman (William Blake Influence 1).
William Blake not only had an influence on other poets and writers, but also many musicians as well. Much of his poetry can be heard in the songs of several well-known artists today. These songs include “End of Night” by The Doors and “My Blakean Year” by Led Zepellin (William Blake Influence 1). His poem “Jerusalem” was even made into a famous Christian hymn now sung at churches around the country. “Tim Morrison and The Doors named their group after Blake’s ‘Doors of Perception’”