William Blake, America, A Prophecy

David Punter (University of Bristol)

The Literary Encyclopedia. Volume 1.2.1.06: English Writing and Culture of the Romantic Period, 1789-1837.
Vol. editors: Daniel Cook (University of Dundee), Daniel Robinson (Widener University)

Dates

First circulation or publication 1793

Places

England (Country of Origin)

Genres and Modes

Poem collection

Resources

Blake was a strong supporter of the American revolution, which he saw as a necessary break with European tyranny. In the poem America he portrays some of the events of the revolution, albeit mainly in terms of a battle between mythical figures. Washington, it is true, opens the action through his defiance of the British government; but that government is represented by 'Albion's Angel' (angels for Blake were usually negative figures of false purity and sanctimonious repression), who menaces the Americans. The presence of Albion's Angel necessarily produces a counter-presence, that of Orc, the spirit of violent revolution, who, interestingly, starts to revisit the weapons of war on Britain itself. The action, however, comes to no c…

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191 words

Citation: Punter, David. "America, A Prophecy". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 17 July 2001 [https://staging.litencyc.com/php/sworks.php?rec=true&UID=6740, accessed 25 November 2024.]

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