a word from our sponsors

See the new shakespeare.com. This feature, while it still provides useful information, is no longer maintained.

Replies | Post Reply | Shakespeare Queries & Replies From Everyone Else 4.2.97: Top | Help

Clearer

You wrote:

Was Blake a "product of his times"? Of course HE was. Were his
works? Maybe. Maybe not. They certainly cannot prove
anything about the historical period into which he happened
to be born.

That's where I don't agree. I think Blake's works were
clearly - even necessarily - of his time as well. This
means: 1) that looking at them can help to understand things about
that historical period's imagination/assumptions. And 2) thast
they can be more profitably read once you try to sort out
what they would have meant withing that historical mindset.

Can they prove anything about Blake's lifetime? Well,
without corroborating evidence they cannot prove much.
But they can prove that certain thoughts were possible
during Blake's lifetime! And that may not be nothing.

Posted by Cloten on April 10, 1997 at 17:46:26
 In Reply to "Nope." posted by Bruce Spielbauer on April 10, 1997 at 17:36:07


 Replies


 Post a Reply

Name
E-mail
Reply in brief

Reply at length
 
 
(Note: line breaks
  will be preserved)
   
Optional Section (if desired, please fill out before submitting your reply)
Site URL
Site Name
Image URL

Replies | Post Reply | Shakespeare Queries & Replies From Everyone Else 4.2.97: Top | Help