Holy Thursday by William Blake

William Blake

Sourced: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Blake

A Short Biography of William Blake

Life:                28^th November 1757 - 12^th August 1827
Born and lived in London, England his entire life (Except for 3 years which he spent in Felpham.
Blake was not only a poet but a painter and printmaker as well.
William Blake was highly unrecognised during his lifetime but now he is viewed as the semi-figure of the Romantic Age for both his poetry and visual art.

Holy Thursday

In some literary forms of writings we can see the timeless nature of texts.  In saying ‘timeless’ they have the ability to have reference and relevance to contemporary lifestyles despite the time when they were composed.  William Blake’s poem ‘Holy Thursday’ is an example of literary texts that does not have an expiry date.

William Blake composed ‘Holy Thursday’ in 1794, the 18^th century which focuses on the rich nature of England but its lack of support for those in poverty – children who as young as 4 years old would be working in factories.  Although this is what Blake has intended this poem to focus on I have perceived it in a different light.  However, I still follow the same ideas and values that Blake is conveying though seeing them through a different context.

We see the overlapping ideas between the time period to which Blake is depicting and the time period which I perceive. Depicting a land which was rich in wealth but who neglected and were ignorant to the poverty stricken inhabitants of society. This was a consequence of the rich categorising themselves as the superior inhabitants of society where their needs and wants conquer any ‘babe’ working in a factory at the age of five. My interpretation however relates to the more prominent concern within contemporary society being the nature of humanity. Civilization is extremely similar to the priorities and attitudes of the ‘rich in wealth’ England- they both place their priorities and needs above any other. This replicates humans with their relationship to the land, who too are ignorant neglecting the needs of nature placing their requirements, visions and desires in preference to the structure and composure of the landscape and the impact it will have on it.

‘Holy Thursday’, is an innovative title which has been used in order to illustrate and depict human interaction with the physical environment. Holy refers to something that is sacred, something that we cherish and is held close to our hearts. When the term is accompanied with the word ‘Thursday’ as in ‘Holy Thursday’ this statement serves a very different purpose. This title is very creative in depicting human attitudes towards the land. Holy Thursday was a time where Jesus offered of himself for the greater benefit of society; to grant them eternal salvation. This replicates the nature of ‘Mother Nature’ and her persona as a loving, nurturer and provider for human life form. She likes the behaviour of Jesus, offering of her own self to grant the happiness and satisfaction for human existence. Also, similarly to Jesus this is a result of human activity. Adam and Eve’s decision to sin resulted in someone else offering their own life to grant happiness for the rest of society, Mother Nature too is giving of herself due to this ‘sin’ of human existence and the act of turning away. Turning away from the intentions of their creation- living in harmony rather than opposing and destroying the varied elements of their surroundings. Again, we can witness the inconsiderate and self-centred society in which we inhibit and can detach the idea that Blake is conveying to the audience being self obsessed and self concerned. In presenting this concept, we like Adam and Eve are turning away from the people God wanted us to be but this does not need to relate on a Christian, Catholic or any religious form rather it relates to humanity.

The third stanza conveys such concepts through the use of repetition of ‘and their’ within the first three lines demonstrating this human relationship over the land. It is demining and powerful and is almost conveying a sense of ownership and power over the land and as a result this presents the environment as vulnerable. It does not have a voice and this almost accusing tone used by Blake has been incorporated to create and illustrate the concept of sin. The persona’s repetition has been used as a means of enforcing these wrong acts of humanity and attempt to draw attention to the changing ways of civilization. Surrounding this use of repetition of ‘and their’ we see the recurrent use of negative connotations in lines like ‘sun does never shine’ ‘fields are bleak and bare’, ‘ways are filled with thorns’. These lines have been incorporated into the poem as a means of illustrating the negative impact of human activity on earth and our negative approach towards it. The line ‘sun does never shine’ can be perceived as a symbol of happiness- the happiness that is no longer apparent within society which has been taken away just like the landscape. ‘The fields are bleak and bare’ can be interpreted in two ways.

1.       One for its physical aspect being that in our destruction there is no land, there is no nature left around us- it is bare. Bare meaning no life form; no plant of animal life on the earth or it could be bare to the persona; the buildings, the factories, this industrial world does not possess any life and is therefore classed as bare- this approach enables the responder to make a judgement of their own. An intriguing approach used by Blake which is effective in presenting these areas of concern to the audience.

2.       The second being that this line too, can be seen as metaphorical for the person- we are bare, we are no longer nurtured by mother nature’s goodness rather like the land we too are bare, we are at a loss of our self- our feelings, attitudes and values as we have lost our source of nourishment.

Blake’s poetry in this sense plays great importance on the severity of the issue. We need to remember and stay true to who we are, not be overcome with materialistic and industrialised elements of society that will overwrite the factors which combine to make one human. Values, morals, right judgement, courage, faith and wisdom may be considered as a cliché but rather these are extremely important in forming a person who can view society from another’s perspective- consequently in forgetting to nourish these factors of our lives we are not nourishing our inner landscape. This effectively changes the people we are and we must strive not to fall in a path of self obsession with only own desires, wants and needs at heart, rather, we must consider all inhabitants within our landscape (plants and animals). They are not only a source for infrastructure, food or even oxygen that enables us to breathe or for assisting our physical bodies to continue to function through everyday lives. We cannot undermine the importance and relevance the landscape has to the aspects of an individual- inner, imaginative and physical. Through this we can see that this demonstrates the inter-relationships between all aspects of the landscape, our reliance on each one and the importance to sustain and maintain each one’s existence.

Below: My Annotated copy of the poem Holy Thursday by William Blake.

Off the Map by David Malouf

"That is what life meant, a unique presence, and it was essential in every creature."
— David Malouf

Image Sourced: http://www.middlemiss.org/lit/authors/maloufd/maloufd.html

A Short Biography of David Malouf

Born:                      Brisbane, Queensland 1934
Education:             Brisbane Grammar School and University of Queensland
Life:                        Fathers family came from Lebanon in 1880’s and mother’s family came from London just before World War One. He taught 2 years after graduating university, and then lived in Britain from 1959-1968. He returned to Australia where he taught English at the University of New South Wales until 1977. He now works as a full-time writer spending half the year in Australia and the other half in Tuscany in Italy.

Off the Map by David Malouf

Where do we go from here?
Which direction is the right way?

If you reach the end of the map and you are heading to a destination which exceeds the map’s boarders you begin to ask yourself these questions. Undoubtedly, in David Malouf’s poem ‘Off the Map’ he has used a creative title which effectively lures the attention of the responder through the elements of mystery incorporated in it. The responder is fascinated and interested as to where the protagonist is headed and consequently, we as the audience delve into this world created by Malouf.

The landscape conveyed by in the first stanza is artificial and in no way is related to the natural elements of society. ‘All night headlamps dazzle the leaves’ this introductory line to the poem exemplifies this new society without a name, without a destination.....yet. The positioning of words placing the importance on the headlamps light in preference of the leaves demonstrates the priorities within society. We place the materialistic items over the natural factors of our surroundings.

Priorities. Humans through time have come to change priorities within their lifestyle. The traditional care for the land, to nourish and replenish it appears to be removed from contemporary society. Such judgements can be concurred from observing new trends in civilizations new attitudes, behaviour and approach to the physical attributes of our landscape. Mankind’s existence upon the world holds a much greater meaning than anything else which inhibits it. Doesn’t it? It must as our attitudes and approach towards the land would not suggest otherwise. ‘All night headlights dazzle the leaves’ is the opening line to the poem where Malouf in this context is illustrating these ideas through the artificial elements of society being shed over nature. Human life and existence plays a greater importance within the world than plants or animals and this idea can be seen through the symbolism of artificial lights. This clearly illustrates how the human population have transformed and followed the trend of ‘change’ just like their physical environment. They have become beings unrecognisable. We no longer turn to nature as a form of nourishment and survival rather we resort to ‘pills’ to give us the energy and provide us with the strength. ‘Truck-drivers throbbing on pills climb out of the sleep’- Stanza 1, Line 2-4 is a clear indicator which supports the concept that Malouf is attempting to present to the responder. This ‘being’ that we as society have become, dependant on human inventions and artificial elements of the environment to keep us going through day to day life.

This concept of the artificial and unnatural features of our landscape for the continuation of survival is represented as a war within the poem and this is created through the numerous connotations of war. ‘Hatched tyre-marks of country dust, the print of monster;’- Stanza7, Line 2-4 is simply one example of how Malouf is representing the land to be a war ground. We can extract from this that evidently there is a fight between the human existence and the environment and this is explored through the poem. Through the tone used in ‘monsters’ we can retract Malouf’s views upon the issue and consequently sense the resentment felt towards this change of environment. The reference to tyre-marks is a symbol of the imprint of society demonstrating our imprint, our impact and influence on our surroundings. As in whatever we do we struggle not to leave a mark, in our nature of being the destroyers; the monsters of society.

Stanza 8, Line 2-4 further analyses this concept of destruction ‘ranges of our skull in low gear shifting skyward they climb towards dawn.’ Skull as seen in ‘In the Forest’ by Thomas Shapcott again brings to mind the idea of death. The death that we are causing to our environment leaving it bare, dry with no life. The term ‘climb’ again has connotations of a ‘war-like’ atmosphere and as they climb to dawn this is a symbol as the long but evidently occurring dawn. The dawn of a new time- it is a new horizon and in understanding this concept we can see the subliminal meaning being conveyed, that this is not just a new sun brightening a new day rather it is a metaphor for the new landscape that is yet to surround us.

‘New streets that glow in the eyes of farmboys’- Stanza 9, Lines 3-4, again we see the juxtaposition used between the unreal and true factors of society. The comparison of ‘glow’ and ‘farmboys’ again relates to the rivalry between nature and the inhabitants. However, it we van see the powerful and determined nature of civilization, through the harsh imagery that is used in ‘glow in the eyes’ . This is almost is showing that this light is so sharp, so bold that it is indestructible and cannot be broken through replicating the will of humans. It’s almost blinding the farmboys and to a certain degree this can be perceived as literally blinding through the constant implementation of artificial lighting and industrial characters in our environment which are all concentrated in a particular area. This line however, can also be interpreted in a metaphorical and symbolic manner, representing humankind as the lights they are blocking out and restricting our sights of our environments our natural views and outlooks. Constantly throughout the poem Malouf is introducing to the responder the concept of this new lifestyle that is evolving within our surroundings. He is presenting to the audience the impact it will have on our lifestyles and our environment. This indirect approach is very effective in getting into the mind of the responder.

‘Nameless, not to be found by day on any map’- Stanza 10, Line 3-4 in this line the responder is revealed to this destination, although it’s not a place to be looking for. The destination has not been found as the persona does not want it to find it. It can only be revealed if society continue to follow this road but the composer is make aware and come to the realisation of the havoc and the chaos it can cause and that they can see this ‘place’ does not deserve a name. Rather that we should turn around and find our way back on to the map and begin to follow a road we know to find a destination far away from this harsh unnatural place and return to our roots.

Malouf’s method of writing has made a connection between the responder and the text and in doing so is getting them to question their participation in society.

Are they too evolving into this new life form that will leave tyre-marks wherever they go or will they be the farmboy, standing waiting for a war to come their way?
Or will they turn around and follow the road back to a safe place?

Below: My Annotations of the Poem Off the Map by David Malouf

Sydney and the Bush- Les A. Murray

“A true poem is dreamed and danced as well as thought.”-

Les A. Murray

 Above Image: Sourced http://dlibrary.acu.edu.au/research/theology/ejournal/aejt_5/gregsmith.htm

A Short Profile of Les A. Murray

Born:                   1938 in Nabiac (Village, North Coast of New South Wales)

Education:          1957 studied at the University of Sydney

Themes:              Murray’s poems range and are diverse. Some explore life and nature, human existence, his association with ‘the people’, the country and his strong beliefs and connection with what it means to be Australian.

Sydney and the Bush

When Sydney and the Bush.........

Change. Within the context and analysis of poems the continual appearance of change is apparent within the landscape poets are conveying. It is through the use of this repetition that we as the responder may see this pattern as a message. It can make us question ourselves and our role in this change. Regardless of the lines ending ‘When Sydney and the Bush’, these words are repeated through this entire poem. Les A. Murray has use ‘Sydney’ and ‘Bush’ in a way of demonstrating man and nature. Continually through the poem the interaction of human activity meeting the bush or interrelating with some aspects of our natural environment. This approach used by Murray is establishing what appears to be a connection with the human and natural elements of our surrounding and n doing so is introducing the idea of ‘cause and effect’.

The causes of an increase in infrastructure or any man-made developments come at a cost, an effect to the natural side of the environment. Murray has presented this concept through the juxtaposition found in stanza 4, line 1- ‘Then Bushmen sank and factories rose’. This technique has been used effectively to support the concept of ‘cause and effect’ in developing factories, this comes at a cost. ‘Then bushmen sank’ highlights the effect human inhabitants has upon the natural environment and the people who rely on its nourishment. The inclusion of bushmen- introducing a human element and relationship initiates a new concept; it is not only the physical landscape that is being destroyed, rather not all humans are these destroyers. It portrays a new outlook on the when Sydney (Humans) meets the Bush (Nature) as who are we to categorise all humans as the destroyers. In detaching this meaning from the poem, Murray is trying to sympathise with the inhabitants of society who wish to preserve the ‘Bush’. It is this observation that we may again contradict the concept that has already been presented and see Sydney and the Bush in a new light; maybe it is not literally Humans vs. Nature, rather the New World vs. The Old.

Regardless of your perception of this battle, evidently we can see a change is apparent within the poem. In order to achieve change we must embark on a journey. The use of past tense in ‘The convicts bled and warders bred’ – Stanza 2, Line 1 supports the concept of the journey experienced by the responder which illustrates the changing relationship with our environment; Sydney and the Bush. The alliteration used in ‘bled and bred’ is associated with connotations of growth and spreading.  When something bleeds is spreads and runs fast with no control, this replicates the convicts and the prison guards upon their arrival of Australia. They too bled through our country where the ‘bush’- our land, possessing any control over these happenings. This is a prominent concern conveyed by Murray in this poem showing the land- the ‘bush’ being taken over with no control in what will come next. Murrary is illustrating the vulnerable nature of the land and the inconsiderate behaviours of society and the extent they will go to in order to benefit as much as they can. Taking advantage of Mother Nature’s role as a provider and this is where we can see the greed of society, these evil beings which we are becoming, who are self-absorbed and only looking for what comes next, what is required to upgrade our lifestyle. In doing this we are loosing our humanity; we are becoming vultures rather than replenishing the land. Murray in this sense is presenting that these new inhabitants who bled and bred are the reason why this has happened. This transformation society is facing in drawing Sydney closer to the Bush. Where there will be ‘No common ground’- Stanza 7, Line 4.

These ideas and concepts are again represented in the journey shown in the third stanza’s introductory line ‘When Sydney ordered lavish books and warmed her feet with coal’. The term book is symbolism for the new, growing knowledge the inhabitants possess in relation to the environment and what it could provide for them; what they could get from it. Books are a source or knowledge and can deepens ones understanding regarding a particular issue. This is what the land is providing for its inhabitants, being like a book; was a source of knowledge, where once you possess and understand this knowledge great things can immerse. Rather in these ‘great things’ Murray is trying to draw the responder’s attention to humanity. The term ‘warmed’ brings connotations of a warm welcome, the inhabitants are welcoming this source with open hands but Murray is trying to emphasise it is also ok to close your hands. Don’t lose your yourself in amongst this angst of what it will provide for you, how it can benefit or how it will affect you. Remember not to take advantage of this source as it is the provider and once it is destroyed what will there be left to provide?
What will remain of your physical landscape?  
What will remain left of you?

Below: My annotated copy of Sydney by the Bush by Les A. Murray

In The Forest by Thomas Shapcott

The exploration of the idea and concept of landscapes relates to the inhabitants and the habitat to which they are surrounded by; the landscape. This relationship is a main idea which is explored in Thomas Shapcott’s poem ‘In the Forest’. To me, this poem suits many others analysed as a class, focusing upon the notion of a changing society although each poet has used their own twist to convey this in a unique way.

Shapcott has used various literary techniques in order to illustrate his perception of the change in society; a change in the landscape. However, unlike other poems he cuts right to the chase. The introductory line to his poem ‘Wait for-the axe sound in the forest’ and the use of sensory imagery enhances the responder’s attention and allures them to question what this axe is doing, who is controlling the axe. To me, the repetition and recurring reference to ‘axe’ is a symbolism of mankind. It is a representation of human existence within the landscape and the negative way in which we approach it.

Personally, I perceive the poem to explore human actions, like deforestation. The destruction of land for the satisfaction for humans. This follows the concept of our selfishness and our narrow view on society, placing ourselves and priorities ahead of anything else and only if we have time may consider what the affect of these actions are. This also highlights the fast moving nature of society, we are always looking on how to improve and get the best result. The first stanza of the poem supports this idea as the truncated sentences create a feeling of angst among the wildlife that are just waiting for the ‘approaching pace’. Shapcott here is representing how humans just come do not consider the other inhabitants, they ambush the land take what they can and leave the inhabitants to fend for themselves.

The persona however is attempting to show this lack of judgement and draw to our attention that the landscape may actually be alive. The reference to ‘the creatures that are nearest the earth’ (Stanza 1, Line 3-4) clearly identifies that they feel the change, they are not just there to make the landscape beautiful, they are not there for human amusement and show, they have a purpose just like humans they have feelings and they depend of the environment just as greatly as humans do. Stanza 2, Line 1 ‘And they must wait.’ this short sentence has been used to show that there is no questioning the situation there is no debate nor is there another choice revolving the issue. The non-human elements of the landscape; the trees the creatures, the lizards, the birds all must wait for the human interactions of the earth as they alter the varied life forms interactions with the earth.  

The rhetorical questions used “Then has the time come?” and “But has the time come?” again have connotations of change. The change of human’s consideration of their physical surroundings to the ignorance of anything that does not provide for a greater benefit within their own lives.

The poem coveys the landscape as vunerable as if they are attempting to hide away from humans, ‘The snake moves into the reeds quickly’- Stanza 3, Line 3-4 identifies and demonstrates that other inhabitants are needing to change their way of living as a result of human existence’s desire and wants. The line also presents a new idea of Mother Nature as a provider and a nurturer as she did originally, but also showing that she may be providing humans in a materialistic way she still provides for all-even in a way she never intended to.

‘That! Slap of an axe. That!’ (Stanza 4, Line 1) The truncated sentences paired with the punctuality, heighten the responder’s suspense questioning what is ‘that’? What the slap of the axe? It can be perceived both for its literal meaning the physical destruction of the environment, being taken away and destroyed but also for the subliminal message being the existence of nature in whole- the animals ‘They flee.’ (Stanza 4, Line 4) taking away destroying their home, their habitat, the life of the tree which has inconsiderably been destroyed to again accustom to suit the human needs. ‘The possums clutch their young’ (Stanza 4, Line 4) again can possesses a dual meaning whether this is for the possums protecting their young or animal life, trying to clutch onto their natural habitat before it is completely taken away from them. This dual message approach reaches the responder in getting them to question are they associated with this type of humans? The ones who take and take from society to leave nothing and be inconsiderate for the other inhabitants of the land and in using such literary techniques Shapcott are successful in portraying his purpose.

“The skull of the forest is opened up” (Stanza 7, Line 2) is extremely effective in stressing the importance of the issue. It is goes beyond the destruction of a tree or two and beyond the loss of an animal’s habitat to create a greater building or house. A skull can be perceived as a representation of death, it can be seen what remains after death as well. A skull is bare, it is not alive, and it is not filled with thought or love or does not cater a purpose. This skull is the landscape, and what it is to become with this behaviour and attitudes of society. However, it is not only the physical but also inner and imaginative landscape as what will become of us if we have no change in environment, materialistic items have an expirary date and when this time comes and the landscape has stopped providing newer and greater things what will happen to us? What will we become? Will we become just like this skull lying open where the forest once was, bare and without a purpose?

Below: My annoted version of the poem 'In the Forest' by Thomas Shapcott