William Blake’s The Tyger

Even after all these years we as humans still ask why evil exists and where does it come
from. As stated in William Blake’s powerful piece of poetry The Tyger its hard for us as
a people to acknowledge that such a fearsome creature who preys on mankind could have
been created by God. In his work Blake approaches the idea of the tiger as being a dark
and evil creature created only for destruction. And what shoulder and what art. Could
twist the sinews of thy heart? And, when thy heart began to beat, What dread hand? and
what dread feet? Blake clearly observes the beauty of the creature but seems more drawn
to the dark mystery of the creature. During the time period any creature that took human
life without regard was considered to be a work of the devil, a creature of Satan, but
Blake on the other hand had a different view that was sure to cause an upset in society so
many years ago. When the stars threw down their spears, And watered heaven with their
tears, Did He smile His work to see? Did He who made the lamb make thee? The very
idea that God could have created this terrible beast must have border lined on heresy. But
when this poem is read along side Blake’s other piece the lamb, we start to see what he
means. In the bible there is reference to the Lion laying down with the lamb as a sign of
peace, unity and harmony this is perhaps what Blake was referring to when he wrote
these two poems. He is perhaps saying that no matter how different we are, or the
darkness that may reside with in some we can coexist together because we come from the
same place.