블레이크의 예언 시에서 불의 이미지 읽기

Abstract

This study is to interpret the images of fire in William Blake's prophetic poetry, especially in The Marriage of Heaven and Hell, Milton, and Jerusalem. Blake, as an opponent of radical consciousness, pursued 'a way of life without oppression' against the imperial order of an oppressed society. The images of fire suggest a way of existence where individual imagination and creative labor are fully fulfilled. Examining the images of fire offers an easier access of understanding towards Blake’s prophetic poetry, which is often over evaluated through the perspective of mystery. This is why a more concrete approach is needed in order to see Blake's hidden vision, a perfect whole encapsulating his poetry. In The Marriage of Heaven and Hell, fire is identical to the forces of inspiration. Rintrah's fire in The Marriage of Heaven and Hell is one of the images of fire. Rintrah is the just wrath of the prophet who wishes to transform the wilds into a "New Jerusalem." Another image of fire is the furnaces of Los which were at first merely a necessary prop for his blacksmithing in Jerusalem. Los's furnaces represent the path of experience to the point of creation. Blake believes in the value of labour for human fulfillment as portrayed through the poetic images of fire. Blake's poetic inspiration of fire is an active shaping agent for pursuing freedom from oppression in our life.