Blake: Context: Flashcards
Blake and Religion:
How did Blake view religion?
Blake was born into a family of English Dissenters, Christians who separated from the Church of England in the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries. The Dissenters were highly critical of the Church’s powers in society and of orthodox religion in general.
Blake’s attacks on conventional religion were shocking in his own day. However, his rejection of religiosity was not a rejection of religion per se. He maintained a belief in Jesus, a Christian God and the possibility of spiritual redemption.
One of Blake’s strongest objections to orthodox Christianity is that he felt it encouraged the suppression of natural desires and discouraged earthly joy.
Blake and the Industrial Revolution:
How did Blake view the Industrial Revolution?
Blake was concerned about senseless wars and the blighting effects of the Industrial Revolution.
The Industrial Revolution was the transition to new manufacturing processes in the period from about 1760 to sometime between 1820 and 1840. This transition included going from hand production methods to machines, new chemical manufacturing and iron production processes, improved efficiency of water power, the increasing use of steam power, and the development of machine tools. It also included the change from wood and other bio-fuels to coal.
While growth of the economy’s overall productive powers was unprecedented during the Industrial Revolution, living standards for the majority of the population did not grow meaningfully until the late 19th and 20th centuries, and that in many ways workers’ living standards declined under early capitalism: for instance, studies have shown that real wages in Britain only increased 15% between the 1780s and 1850s, and that life expectancy in Britain did not begin to dramatically increase until the 1870s.
Blake and the French Revolution:
How did view Blake view the French Revolution?
Much of his poetry recounts in symbolic allegory the effects of the French Revolution. Blake was disillusioned with them, believing they had simply replaced monarchy with irresponsible mercantilism (governmental regulation of a nation’s economy).
The French Revolution was a period of radical social and political upheaval in France from 1789 to 1799 that profoundly affected French and modern history, marking the decline of powerful monarchies and churches and the rise of democracy and nationalism. Popular resentment of the privileges enjoyed by the clergy and aristocracy grew amidst a financial crisis following two expensive wars and years of bad harvests, motivating demands for change.
A republic was proclaimed in September 1792. In a momentous event that led to international condemnation, King Louis XVI was executed on 21 January 1793.
Overall the Revolution did not greatly change the French business system, and probably helped freeze in place the horizons of the small business owner. The typical businessman owned a small store, mill or shop, with family help and a few paid employees; large scale industry was less common than in other industrializing nations.
Blake and slavery:
How did Blake view slavery?
Blake and slavery
Blake was deeply opposed to slavery.
In 1772, Lord Mansfield’s judgement in the Somersett’s Case emancipated a slave in England, which helped launch the movement to abolish slavery. The case ruled that slavery was unsupported by law in England and no authority could be exercised on slaves entering English or Scottish soil.
However, the slave trade continued across the rest of the British Empire and major slave owners were still able to buy their way into high office and control of parliament.
The Slavery Abolition Act was passed in Britain in 1833.
