The Lamb vs. the Tyger

The Lamb vs. the Tyger

  • Submitted By: brassman08
  • Date Submitted: 04/26/2010 2:00 PM
  • Category: English
  • Words: 434
  • Page: 2
  • Views: 846

Heather Barker
ENC1102
Tues/Thurs 11AM

The Lamb v. The Tyger

Is there a God? And if there is, how do we know what his intentions are? How do we know if he is truly good or evil? In two of William Blakes’ works, ‘The Lamb’ and ‘The Tyger,’ the question of what God’s true view is in the world comes to mind. One cannot analyze one of these poems easily without analyzing the other as well. So, the question stands: If God is responsible for both the good things in life (the lamb) and the bad things as well (the tyger), how can God be good and moral?

In Christianity, the belief is that God created the heavens and the earth, and then the animals and the humans. The constant question in ‘The Lamb’ is “Little Lamb, who made thee?” Blake goes into great detail about what God has given him, such as his wool, his food, and the stream he drinks from. This poem very dynamically illustrates dramatic irony. The reader knows God created the lamb. But, the lamb is an immature animal that cannot know how he came to be. Yes, his mother gave birth to him. But, the lamb cannot begin to comprehend where his mother came from and her mother before that, how the first lamb was put on this Earth.
On the contrary, ‘The Tyger’ is the complete opposite. The tyger is this fearful, angry creature with fire in its eyes and hate in his heart. Blake continues to describe in detail how the creator of the lamb is the same as this tyger. How can this be? The lamb, so fragile and weak. The tyger, angry and strong. How could any being create a monster such as this? Was there a purpose of making a sweet animal alongside a vicious one? The tyger maneuvers in ways to attack and completely terrorize his prey. The lamb grazes along and eats his food, peacefully, harming no one and nothing. Did God really create two animals to live harmoniously with each other? And if so, why?
How does a murderer and a preacher live in harmony in this world? How does this lamb and this tyger do the same?...

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