The Impact Of The French Revolutıon On Wıllıam Blake’s Poetry And Paıntıng: The Changıng Phases Of Evıl

Abstract

William Blake was deeply influenced by the revolutions of the late eighteenth century. The events of the turbulent age, specifically the French Revolution, created various impacts on Blake; and led him to many transitions both politically and theologically. He himself and his continental prophetic books are, therefore, the core products of the transitions he went through. In this thesis, the impacts of the different phases of the French Revolution on William Blake will be presented with the analogical readings of the texts and the illustrations with the events of the period. The impact of the revolution on Blake is already studied; yet it is incomplete when it comes to the continental prophetic books. The problem lies in the conceptualization of the French Revolution as a single event of 1789. The French Revolution is rather a series of events beginning from 1789 to 1815. Thus, while focusing on the impacts of the revolution on Blake, special attention will be drawn to the period from 1789 to 1795; early phase of the revolution (1789-1792), Terror Period (1792-1793), war-time period (1793-1795). Each period's impacts on Blake will be presented with references to Blake's works from different years, The French Revolution (1791), The Marriage of Heaven and Hell (1790-1793), America, A Prophecy (1793), Europe, A Prophecy (1794), and The Song of Los (1795) respectively.