The Human Abstract

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 is an example of Blake’s metaphysical poetry. It explores the suffering created by rigid moral rules. The poem implies that organized religion and its dogmas are the source of incredible suffering, and should be questioned and replaced with more nuanced, compassionate thinking. It explores the darker side of human nature.

Text of the Poem.

Pity would be no more
If we did not make somebody Poor;
And Mercy no more could be
If all were as happy as we.

And mutual fear brings peace,
Till the selfish loves increase:
Then Cruelty knits a snare,
And spreads his baits with care.

He sits down with holy fears,
And waters the grounds with tears;
Then Humility takes its root
Underneath his foot.

Soon spreads the dismal shade
Of Mystery over his head;
And the Caterpillar and Fly
Feed on the Mystery.

And it bears the fruit of Deceit,
Ruddy and sweet to eat;
And the Raven his nest has made
In its thickest shade.

The Gods of the earth and sea
Sought thro’ Nature to find this Tree;
But their search was all in vain:
There grows one in the Human Brain.

First Stanza

Blake begins by suggesting that emotions like pity and mercy are only possible in a world where there is suffering. “Pity” requires the existence of poverty or misfortune. Similarly, “Mercy” presupposes that there are those who suffer or are less fortunate than others. If everyone were equally happy and content, these emotions would be unnecessary.

Second Stanza

Blake claims that mutual fear among individuals can lead to peace, as fear of consequences keeps people from harming each other. However, as selfishness and self-love grow, this balance is disrupted. “Cruelty” personified then begins to take advantage of this selfishness, setting traps (“knits a snare”) and luring people into harmful behaviors.

Third Stanza

“He” (Cruelty” is depicted as a farmer who cultivates negative emotions. “Holy fears” refer to fears that are seen as morally or religiously justified. These fears nourish the soil, metaphorically “watering” it with tears, allowing “Humility” to take root. However, this humility is not genuine but rather a product of fear and suffering.

Fourth Stanza

This “dismal shade of Mystery” represents the obscuring and confusing aspects of these negative emotions. Mystery here symbolizes ignorance and misunderstanding, which provide cover for more harm to thrive. The “caterpillar and fly” are parasitic creatures feeding off this Mystery, suggesting that ignorance allows harmful, parasitic elements to flourish.

Fifth Stanza

The negative emotions and ignorance ultimately bear the fruit of “Deceit,” which is tempting and alluring (“ruddy and sweet to eat”). Deceit is attractive, drawing people in with its appearance. The “raven” symbolizes death or ill omen and finds a home in the darkest part of this metaphorical tree, thriving in the shadows of deceit and ignorance.

Sixth Stanza

The poem concludes by stating that even the gods who rule the natural world could not find this tree in nature. This implies that the source of such negative emotions and deceit is not external but internal, residing within the human mind (“There grows one in the Human Brain”). Blake emphasizes that the roots of human suffering and moral corruption are within ourselves, not in the external world.

Conclusion

The poem critiques how human virtues and vices are interconnected. Blake suggests that virtues like pity and mercy exist because of the presence of suffering and inequality. He portrays negative emotions and behaviors (like cruelty, deceit, and fear) as being cultivated and sustained by human ignorance and misunderstanding. Ultimately, Blake points to the human mind as the source of these negative aspects, implying that true change must come from within.

The poem contrasts with its counterpart in “Songs of Innocence,” titled “The Divine Image” which presents a more idealistic view of human virtues. Together, they offer a comprehensive view of Blake’s thoughts on human nature.