William Blake and the Romantic Period

William Blake lived from 1757-1827. He based most of his works in the style of Romanticism. Much like William Wordsworth, Blake wrote from the heart, letting natural expression take over. Many of the writers of the Romantic period felt they had entered an imaginative climate, which some of them called "the Spirit Age." During this "Spirit Age," many authors felt that freedom and spontaneity were the key elements in poetry. Before this creative revolution, a poem was considered a classical work of art, assimilated to please an audience. In Romanticism, the "rules" hanging over poetry were dropped and a piece of work could become, as Blake described, "an embodiment of the poet's imagine vision." Blake used these free-formed ideas and concepts in his later works. These essays, All Religions Are One, There is No Natural Religion (a), and There is No Natural Religion (b), all show Blake's views against Christian Orthodox, religion based on ancient scripture and against "Natural Religion," the belief that God is as natural organism, much like man. Blake was opposed to the idea that God is only what the church believes him to be but he was also opposed to the notion that God was here before we were. Blake believed that man's "Poetic Genius," or imagination helped create the God of today. Many of the writers of the Romantic period were highly influenced by the war between England and France and the French Revolution. During the war, Blake was faced with charges of "speaking against his King and country." People of this era felt his works tested the boundaries of good art. Many of the other writers of this time also challenged previously accepted ideas. Mary Wollstonecroft wrote "A Vindication of the Rights of Women." Her work stood up against the female stereotypes and preconceived notions about women. In the midst of all these changes, Blake too was inspired to write against these ancient ideas. All Religions Are One, There is No Natural Religion (a), and There is No