"The Tyger" and "The Chimeny Sweep" vs. "The Lamb" and "The Chimney Sweeper

William Blake likes to explore two vast parts of the spectrum of existence and experience; this concept is implicit in his “Songs of Innocence” and “Songs of Experience.” In the “Songs of Innocence,” particularly in the poems, “ The Lamb” and “The Chimney Sweeper,” Blake is trying to convey purity and hope, respectively. While, in his “Songs of Experience,” particularly in the poems, “The Tyger” and “ The Chimney Sweep,” the author completely juxtaposes his previous sentiments in the “Songs of Innocence” by portraying the flight of innocence, the prevalence of evil and the loss of hope. Consequently, Blake is making a comparison between good vs. evil, as if he is going through an internal dilemma. Blake wonders whether the naïve nature and hopes of a child, in terms of the struggle in one’s current life that will eventually provide us with a great afterlife holds greater precedent, than an experienced adult, who questions hope and whether the struggle in one’s current life is worth a vast unknown realm of heaven.

As suggested above, Blake makes some stark contrasts in his, “Songs of Innocence” and “Songs of Experience.” Two such poems that show Blake’s disparity are the “The Tyger” and “The Lamb.” In the poem, “The Lamb,” a child is questioning the existence of the lamb. This is prevalent in lines 1-3,” Little Lamb, who made thee? Dost thou know who made thee? Give thee life, and bid thee feed.” These lines represent the innocence of the child; the inquisitiveness to understand the unknown and the curiosity of a child, consequently this continuous questioning of how the lamb came about existence is prevalent through out the first stanza.

Concurrently, in the poem, “The Tyger,” the same child is questioning the existence of the tiger. This is prevalent in lines 3-4, “What immortal hand or eye, could frame thy fearful symmetry?” In turn, the same child is curious as to how the tiger came to existence, however he is more fearful of the existence, confused how one could create the lamb so innocent and virtuous and create the tiger with cruel intent. I believe that the difference between “The Tyger” and “The Lamb,” is the speaker who once had an innocent and childish outlook of the world, also trusted god and his infinite purity and intent of good. However, in “The Tyger,” the speaker has grown up, become more fearful and questions the intent of god, questioning how he can create something so pure and good like the lamb, but also create something so evil like the tiger. In turn, the speaker transitions from full trust in god to fearful, mistrust and questioning the concept of god.   

Likewise, the poems “The Chimney Sweeper” and the “Chimney Sweep” also contain the same contrast that are developed between the poems “The lamb” and “The Tyger.” In the poem, “The Chimney Sweeper,” a child is forced to become a child laborer, particularly a chimney sweeper, however instead of being miserable about the predicament the speaker is placed in, the speaker looks at the positive outcome of the miserable life he/she leads. This is prevalent in lines 1-4, “ when my mother died I was very young, and my father sold me while yet my tongue scarcely cry, “weep! weep! weep! weep!” So your chimneys I sweep, and in soot I sleep.” These lines represent a time period in England called the industrial era where children were forced into labor by their parents due to the necessity for money. In turn, the speaker claims that he or she was so young when they were forced into such a laborious and unhealthy task. However, he or she is not saddened by their predicament, this is established in lines 16 – 20, “…Were all of them lock’d up in coffins of black. And by came an angel who had a bright key, and he open’d the coffins and set them free; then down a green plain leaping, laughing, they run, and was in a river, and shine in the sun.” This line basically suggests that if you struggle and work hard, then this place of infinite possibilities, of love, light and laughter is open to you once you have passed on. In turn, these lines represent the power of religion on children, providing them the light at the end of the tunnel, and the silver lining through all of this injustice.

Nevertheless, Blake completely contrasts his original sentiments in “The Chimney Sweeper,” in the poem “The Chimney Sweep,” where the child has lost his innocence and mistrusts god. This is evident in the third stanza, “and because I am happy and dance and sing, they think they have done me no injury, and are gone to praise god and his priest and his king, who make up heaven in misery.” In turn, the child is crying for his parents, their guidance and their love, however they have placed the child in a disastrous job, chimney sweeping, claiming that his/her struggle, misery and hard work, will lead him/her to a placed called heaven. In turn, the child holds no affection for god and claims his heaven to be filled with misery because his parents hold more affection for god, than the child itself. Evidently, the child has lost all hope, and turns to nature for comfort.      

William Blake loves to compare and contrast experience and exisistence, this manifests in the poems, “ The Lamb” and “The Tyger,” as well as the poems “The Chimney Sweep” and “The Chimney Sweeper.” He starts of by exploring the innocent, curious, inquisitiveness of a child, all that is good in the world, and this is evident in “ The lamb” and “The Chimney Sweeper.” However, innocence turns into experience, and Blake grapples with the human struggle, the loss of hope and fear. This is evident in the poems, “The tyger” and “The Chimney Sweep.” In turn, Blake makes a transition from curiosity, innocent intent and fully trusting god, to being miserable, loosing all hope and questioning the existence of god.