The Angel
By William Blake
I dreamt a dream! What can it mean?
And that I
was a maiden Queen
Guarded by
an Angel mild:
Witless woe
was ne'er beguiled!
And I wept
both night and day,
And he
wiped my tears away;
And I wept
both day and night,
And hid from
him my heart's delight.
So he took
his wings, and fled;
Then the
morn blushed rosy red.
I dried my
tears, and armed my fears
With
ten-thousand shields and spears.
Soon my
Angel came again;
I was
armed, he came in vain;
For the
time of youth was fled,
And grey
hairs were on my head.
The poem is a part of William Blake’s collection of poems “Songs of
Experience” published in 1794. It presents the fascinating concept of angels.
The idea is common within the Abrahamic religions: Islam, Judaism and
Christianity. It is also mentioned in some other religions like Sikh and
Zoroastrian texts. The poem is rich with symbolic imagery and layered meaning.
First Stanza
In the first stanza, the speaker recounts a dream in which she is a “maiden
Queen,” suggesting purity, innocence, and perhaps naivety. She is protected by
a “mild” Angel, which can be seen as a guardian figure representing spiritual
or divine protection. The phrase “witless woe was ne’er beguiled” suggests that
in her innocence, she was unaware of the true nature of sorrow or pain.
Second Stanza
In the second stanza, the speaker reveals that despite the Angel’s
protection, she experiences intense sorrow (“I wept both night and day”). The
Angel attempts to comfort her by wiping away her tears. However, she continues
to weep and hides “my heart’s delight” from him. This indicates a growing separation
between the speaker’s inner emotions and the Angel’s comfort, suggesting an
internal conflict or a sense of alienation.
Third Stanza
In the third stanza, the Angel leaves (“took his wings and fled”), which
could symbolize the loss of innocence or divine protection. The “morn blushed
rosy red” suggest a new beginning or a transformation. The speaker then dries
her tears and “armed my fears with ten thousand shields and spears,” indicating
she has become hardened and defensive. This imagery shows a transition from vulnerability
to self-reliance and perhaps aggression.
Fourth Stanza
In the final stanza, the Angel returns, but now the speaker is armed and
no longer needs or welcomes his protection (“he came in vain”). The “time of
youth was fled,” and the presence of “grey hairs” signifies the passage of time
and the arrival of old age. This suggests a loss of innocence and the wisdom or
cynicism that comes with age. The Angel’s return is futile because the speaker
has fundamentally changed and no longer resonates with the innocence and purity
she once had.
Conclusion
The poem explores themes of innocence, experience, and the transformation
that occurs as one grows older. The Angel represents a protective, divine force
that shields the speaker in her youth. However, as she faces sorrow and the
trials of life, she becomes more self-reliant and distant from this divine
protection. The poem highlights the inevitable loss of innocence and the
hardening of the heart that comes with age and experience.
Comments
Post a Comment