The Sick Rose - William Blake Flashcards
What type of Poem is the Sick Rose?
An Allegory (moral story)
What is the poem be about?
-Men who are married sleeping with prostitutes
-Rose = symbol of Britain > sickness of the nation due to what is going on within
Why was Blake highly critical of the 18th century churches view on sex?
- it was portrayed as something to be ashamed of, and desire as something that ought to be repressed.
Why did Blake believe that sexuality should be embraced not suppressed?
- the denial of sexual desire could have damaging and destructive consequences for both the individual and society more generally.
When was the Sick Rose published?
-In Songs of Innocence and experience in 1794
What event was in the backdrop of Blakes lifetime which would influence the Sick Rose?
-The Industrial revolution > increase in prostitution
What does the title ‘Sick Rose’ have connotations to?
-Tainted love
-Thorns
-Industrialisation plaguing the earth
-Flower> virginity/ sexuality - deflowering
-Red > love, passion
-Sick > tainted, loss of innocence
How can Rousseau be seen to influence the poem?
“Man was born equal and free but everywhere found in chains” > human beings are good and pure by nature but are rendered corrupt by society
What effect does the Apostrophe at the poem’s beginning have on the tone?
-Somber, melancholy
-Shame and pity
What is the overall message of the poem?
We ultimately have a choice and responsibility to uphold & protect that which is pure and innocent from that which is invisible and chaotic
What does the ‘sick’ describe?
-subversion of marriage and relationships > rise in prostitution
how can the animal imagery be viewed as to do with human consumption?
-The rose as a society and the worm is the Industrial Revolution which is tainting society and societal morality
How can the animal imagery “the invisible worm” be viewed as phallic?
-Worm as this plague of unexpressed sexuality which taints people to resort to prostitution to fulfil their desires
How can the animal imagery “the invisible worm” be viewed as religious?
-Serpent like > poisoning of the earth like the serpent corrupting Eve in the garden of eden
What does the parasitic nature of the ‘worm’ suggest?
-How this plague feeds off of the destruction
