"The Tyger" by William Blake was written in 1794, it was included in Songs of Experience. The poem starts off with Blake asking a feared tiger what kind of exquisite being created it: “What immortal hand or eye/ Could frame thy fearful symmetry?” Every stanza asks similar questions, all of which branch from the original one. From which part of the universe could the tiger’s smouldering eyes have come, and who would have been brave enough to fondle that fire? What sort of visible presence, and what kind of evil creations, would have been needed to “twist the sinews” of the tiger’s heart? Blake ponders how once that heart “began to beat,” its creator would have had the perseverance to proceed with the task. Comparing God to a blacksmith. Welding and banging away at a piece of scrap, turning it into something fierce and beautiful. Could the same fearless artist also conjure up the lamb?
This piece isn't solely talking about the creations of God. It's more about the characteristics of himself. The reason Blake included both a tiger and a lamb was to show the two sides of God. The tiger represents the strong willed, almost ferocious judge. The people of Earth fear God and his powers. The sheep represents the saviour and nurturer side. Both characteristics are necessary to gain the trust and loyalty of the people. A kick in the rear to get them motivated and a sweet treat for them to be ambitious for. Every person will face both the tiger and the lamb throughout their life. Challenging situations will attack the souls along with the serene moments of peace. On that day at the Golden Gate, a person will face God. That person will have either a perception of a loving, caring lamb or a ruthless tiger. This all depends on the relationships that person held in their mortal form. Relationships to nature, god and humanity are all determining factors of the way God relieves them from their body. In conclusion, God is complex. He has his own Ying and Yang persona. Blake knew that secret when many others had to wait till judgement day to finally meet their tiger.
Video: The Tyger' By William Blake. By, Robert Nichol. United Kingdom, 10 April 2008. AdioProductions. 31 December 2010. <youtube.com>
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