“The Tyger” as a Symbol of Evil and Blake’s Initial Pondering
“The Tyger” by William Blake presents a discussion on the nature of metaphysical Good and Evil. The central figure of the poem is the tiger, which represents Evil as an inseparable aspect of the world order. The author views it as a part of nature, always present and threatening, through the lines, “In what distant deeps or skies / Burnt the fire of thine eyes?” (lines 5 – 6).
The fearsome nature of the beast, however, does not repel the hero but instead allures him and makes him ponder the tiger’s nature and the reason for its existence. Blake addresses the fierce and majestic animal with admiration and awe, reflecting on its symbolic meaning as a mysterious and dangerous being (Živković, 2020). Throughout the poem, Blake questions God’s role in creating the terrifying beast.
Opposing the fearsome nature of the titular beast with the peaceful demeanor of creatures like a lamb, the author raises the question of God’s creative intent. Blake (2018) asks the metaphorical tiger, “Did he smile his work to see? / Did he who made the Lamb make thee?” (lines 19–20). In a continuous one-sided conversation, the author wonders whether creating the tiger as the opposition to the lamb was necessary for God to achieve what Živković calls “the highest degree of congruity” (2020, p. 236).
However, the question remains unanswered, giving the reader room for reflection. The poet remains skeptical that God could have willfully fashioned such a dreadful beast. Blake asserts that superior forces formed the tiger, and it is up to the reader to determine whether those forces are good or evil.
Blake’s Exploration of Divine Intent and the Creation of a Mystical World
Through these discussions with himself, the author manages to create a mystical world of metaphors and allegories. Instead of simply painting an image of the beast, Blake builds his little world where the tiger rules, observing the night with his watchful, fiery gaze. By pointing out various animal features, the poet creates a unique poetic environment in which the undetermined divine forces produce the tiger.
Blake’s imaginary universe exists as a metaphorical parallel to the real world; it is constructed exclusively for the sake of the tiger. The beast rules over “the forests of the night” through fear and awe, not only as God’s mere creation but representing God himself (Blake, 2018, line 2). This poetic synthesis of different mythological systems in this fictional universe positions the tiger, in the words of Schlieper, as a single “all-penetrating life force” (as cited in Živković, 2020, p. 236). This combination of different interpretations of the tiger as an animal and as a symbol forms a universal principle of the divine, frightening, and beautiful.
The poet uses various literary techniques and linguistic patterns, presenting the tiger as an embodiment of a divine force. Through metaphors, allegories, and personification, Blake constructs an image of the titular beast deeply entangled with the fabric of the imaginary universe it exists as its defining element (Gido et al., 2022). Blake repeatedly mentions the beast’s fiery eyes burning brightly yet quietly in the night as a metaphor for the constant presence of Evil in the world. The fiery orange colors of the tiger contrast with “the forests of the night,” emphasizing the beast’s out-of-place nature even in this imaginary world, placing the tiger above and beyond the ordinary (Blake, 2018, line 2). Mentioning the lamb and contrasting it to the tiger provides an allegorical comparison of the two opposing symbols that personify two aspects of the divine creation, Good and Evil.
Literary Techniques, Imagery, and Central Idea
The poem’s vivid imagery and generous use of literary techniques generate a uniquely dark mood and ominous tone (Živković, 2020; Gido et al., 2022). It is impossible to consider another tone when dealing with the idea of God’s unlimited and incomprehensible creative powers and intentions. “The Tyger,” distinguished by dazzling imagery and masterful literary tricks, is one of his most notable works.
Blake successfully expresses how he perceives the beast, balancing reality and imagination. The physical and conceptual beauty of the animal fascinates the poet, who also asserts that this beauty is fearsome and dangerous, questioning God’s intent of creating such a dreadful and awesome beast. Questioning the tiger’s nature, Blake searches for answers by referring to different interpretations of the beast, eventually combining them into a unified vision but leaving the question open. As a result, the poet successfully conveys the main idea of the poem: admiration for the powerful divine forces that created and shaped the remarkable and mysterious beast and fascination with the tiger’s frightening beauty.
References
Blake, W. (2018). The Tyger. Poetry Foundation.
Gido, N. G., Montecillo, F. A., Gila, J., & Sudario, D. C. (2022). William Blake’s “The Tyger”: Poetic theme and figurative language. Galaxy International Interdisciplinary Research Journal, 10(7), 169–172. Web.
Živković, D. (2020). Mythological transformations in the poem “The Tyger” by William Blake and the cycle “There Was a tiger here” by Gregor Strniša. Primerjalna Knjizevnost, 43(2), 233–245. Web.