Authority In Little Girl Lost

William Blake’s “Little Girl Lost” exposes authority for being predators that feast on those who lack power in order to urge the vulnerable to break the cycle of power and realize the danger around them. The images of the lion and the beasts illustrate the negative power-mongering qualities authority figures possess while the image of the defenseless, sleeping girl signifies the vulnerability of those who are blind to their servitude to their leaders.
In order to portray the dangers, the text utilizes the symbol of the lion to represent authority. Amongst the beasts that visit sleeping Lyca, the main character, the poem notes that “the kingly lion” appears (Line 37). The deliberate use of “kingly” crafts an explicit connection to the world
By coupling “kingly” and “lion”, the words reinforce the concept of authority having power over others. In doing so, the text paints the lion as a stoic leader who presides dominion over all other beings, much like a ruler presiding over their subjects. However, since lions are also predators, it corrupts this image by creating an image of a powerful figure who hunts on the weak and vulnerable. The poem utilizes the symbol of a lion to illustrate the corruptive and destructive nature of authority to endorse the opposition towards such forces.
While the lion embodies the head of authority specifically, the other beasts serve as symbols for all other authority figures who possess power. The text notes that “the beasts of prey / Come from caverns deep” (Lines 34-35). Firstly, the negative connotation of “beasts” conjures an image of
The text deliberately describes Lyca with vocabulary that reveals her vulnerability. The poem describes her as “the maid asleep” (Line 36). By specifically referring to her as a maid, the poem establishes the powerless status of Lyca. By definition, a maid is a female servant who caters to the needs of others. In referring to Lyca as a maid, the poem places the character in a position of servitude. Therefore, the general public is subservient to their leaders because they lack the power and agency to act otherwise. In this case, they are vulnerable to the requests and commands of their oppressors because they are not in positions to make decisions. The fact that Lyca is referred to be “asleep” furthers the rhetoric of vulnerability and servitude by revealing her ignorance of the imminent danger. Since she is not conscious, she is unable to make decisions and therefore takes on a passive role. Hence, by taking an inactive role, the general public poses no opposition to the powers that be and perpetuates the manipulation. This is due to the fact that when one sleeps, one becomes unaware of one’s surroundings. The lack of awareness increases vulnerability to the abuse of power and control. The general public becomes ignorant to the world around them and cannot see how exploitable they are. This vulnerability manifests itself when the text notes that