The Angel

By William Blake

William Blake (1757-1827) was an English poet, painter, and visionary, whose work combines profound spiritual themes with intense, often mystical imagery. Blake’s unique style blends poetry and visual art, making him a pioneer figure in Romantic literature and art. His work, though underappreciated in his lifetime, is now celebrated for its originality and depth. The poem is a part of William Blake’s collection of poems “Songs of Experience” published in 1794. It presents the fascinating concept of angels. The idea is common within the Abrahamic religions: Islam, Judaism and Christianity. It is also mentioned in some other religions like Sikh and Zoroastrian texts. The poem is rich with symbolic imagery and layered meaning.

Text of the Poem.

I dreamt a dream! What can it mean?
And that I was a maiden Queen
Guarded by an Angel mild:
Witless woe was ne’er beguiled!

And I wept both night and day,
And he wiped my tears away;
And I wept both day and night,
And hid from him my heart’s delight.

So he took his wings, and fled;
Then the morn blushed rosy red.
I dried my tears, and armed my fears
With ten-thousand shields and spears.

Soon my Angel came again;
I was armed, he came in vain;
For the time of youth was fled,
And grey hairs were on my head.

First Stanza

In the first stanza, the speaker recounts a dream in which she is a “maiden Queen,” suggesting purity, innocence, and perhaps naivety. She is protected by a “mild” Angel, which can be seen as a guardian figure representing spiritual or divine protection. The phrase “witless woe was ne’er beguiled” suggests that in her innocence, she was unaware of the true nature of sorrow or pain.

Second Stanza

In the second stanza, the speaker reveals that despite the Angel’s protection, she experiences intense sorrow (“I wept both night and day”). The Angel attempts to comfort her by wiping away her tears. However, she continues to weep and hides “my heart’s delight” from him. This indicates a growing separation between the speaker’s inner emotions and the Angel’s comfort, suggesting an internal conflict or a sense of alienation.

Third Stanza

In the third stanza, the Angel leaves (“took his wings and fled”), which could symbolize the loss of innocence or divine protection. The “morn blushed rosy red” suggests a new beginning or a transformation. The speaker then dries her tears and “armed my fears with ten thousand shields and spears,” indicating she has become hardened and defensive. This imagery shows a transition from vulnerability to self-reliance and perhaps aggression.

Fourth Stanza

In the final stanza, the Angel returns, but now the speaker is armed and no longer needs or welcomes his protection (“he came in vain”). The “time of youth was fled,” and the presence of “grey hairs” signifies the passage of time and the arrival of old age. This suggests a loss of innocence and the wisdom or cynicism that comes with age. The Angel’s return is futile because the speaker has fundamentally changed and no longer resonates with the innocence and purity she once had.

Conclusion

The poem explores themes of innocence, experience, and the transformation that occurs as one grows older. The Angel represents a protective, divine force that shields the speaker in her youth. However, as she faces sorrow and the trials of life, she becomes more self-reliant and distant from this divine protection. The poem highlights the inevitable loss of innocence and the hardening of the heart that comes with age and experience.