The Song of Los - William Blake

Summary

'The Song of Los' is a prophetic book by William Blake, divided into two parts: "Africa" and "Asia." It narrates the history of the world under the oppressive reign of Urizen's restrictive laws, which spread from ancient civilizations through the Enlightenment, suppressing human freedom and imagination. The prophet Los laments this spiritual decline and the enslavement of the human spirit. The second part, "Asia," then prophesies a global awakening and rebellion against Urizen's tyranny, ignited by the fiery spirit of Orc, symbolizing revolutionary passion. It culminates in a vision of a spiritual apocalypse, where Urizen's laws are shattered, and humanity begins to reclaim its divine form and imaginative freedom.

Book Sections

Section: Africa

This section opens with Los, the prophetic spirit of imagination, expressing deep lament over the pervasive spread of Urizen's restrictive laws across the African continent and, by extension, the ancient world. It describes Urizen, the embodiment of abstract reason and rigid law, descending and establishing his "ten commands"—a set of stringent moral and intellectual systems designed to bind humanity. These laws, while ostensibly bringing order, paradoxically stifle human desire, creativity, and connection to the natural world. Blake traces this historical progression from ancient Egypt, Greece, and Rome, through the medieval period, to the Enlightenment. He specifically names philosophers and religious figures like Bacon, Newton, Locke, Rousseau, and Voltaire, whom he views as having inadvertently reinforced Urizen's cold, rationalistic worldview. This further enslaves the human spirit by prioritizing empirical reason over spiritual insight. The section emphasizes the gradual darkening of the world as Urizen's veil of materialism and dogma descends, causing humanity to forget its divine origins. Los, as the eternal prophet, witnesses this historical trajectory of spiritual decay and cries out in despair, his imaginative fires constrained by the burgeoning reign of reason.

Character	Characteristics	Motivations
Los	The eternal prophet, blacksmith of the imagination, embodiment of poetic genius and creative energy.	To lament humanity's spiritual enslavement, to keep the flame of imagination alive, to warn against the tyranny of Urizen's laws.
Urizen	The primeval priest, embodiment of abstract reason, law, and moral codes; a figure of repression and materialism.	To establish order and control over the chaotic energies of existence, to impose his restrictive laws upon humanity, creating a false sense of security and reason.
Bacon, Newton, Locke	Historical figures (philosophers and scientists) whom Blake saw as progenitors of an overly rational, mechanistic worldview.	To understand the physical world through empirical observation and reason, inadvertently contributing to the spread of Urizen's restrictive system by prioritizing material reality over spiritual insight.
Rousseau, Voltaire	Enlightenment thinkers associated with reason and social contract theories.	To advocate for societal reform and individual rights based on rational principles, but in Blake's view, still operating within Urizen's framework, thus not fully liberating humanity's spirit.

Section: Asia

Following the somber lament in "Africa," the "Asia" section signals a dramatic shift towards a new, revolutionary era. It commences with Los blowing his "trumpet of prophecy," a resounding call to awakening across the continent of Asia and, symbolically, the entire globe. This powerful trumpet blast stirs the sleeping "Giant forms" of the nations, symbolizing humanity in its collective, often slumbering, state. The spirit of rebellion, personified by Orc, begins to stir and erupt. Orc, who embodies revolutionary passion, unbridled desire, and fiery rebellion, is depicted as an uncontrollable force incapable of being contained by Urizen's chains. His birth and subsequent rebellion symbolize the French Revolution and the broader spirit of liberation breaking free from established dogmas and oppressive structures. Kings and priests, representing Urizen's earthly institutions of secular and religious authority, tremble in fear as the "fires of Orc" spread, consuming their repressive laws and structures. The chains forged by Urizen begin to melt under this intense heat, and humanity, though still shrouded by ages of spiritual slumber, starts to awaken, recognizing the possibility of a world free from fear, inhibition, and dogma. The section culminates in a vision of a global spiritual apocalypse, where the old order is violently overthrown, paving the way for a renewed, imaginative humanity.

Character	Characteristics	Motivations
Orc	The spirit of revolution, passion, and unbridled desire; a fiery, rebellious figure born to shatter Urizen's laws.	To break free from all forms of repression, to ignite revolutionary change, to unleash primal energies and desires against restrictive moral codes.
Kings & Priests	Representatives of secular and religious authority, extensions of Urizen's institutional power.	To maintain the established order, to suppress dissent and control the populace through fear and dogma, to protect their positions of power.
Giant Forms / Nations	Humanity in its collective, often slumbering, state; the peoples of the world.	To awaken from spiritual slumber, to throw off the chains of oppression, to reclaim their innate freedom and divine nature.

Literary Genre

Prophetic Book, Epic Poetry, Allegory, Romanticism (specifically, a unique form of Romantic epic).

Author Facts

• William Blake (1757-1827) was an English poet, painter, and printmaker. Largely unrecognized during his lifetime, he is now considered a seminal figure in the history of both poetry and the visual arts of the Romantic Age.
• He developed a unique personal mythology and a complex spiritual system, which he explored extensively in his 'Prophetic Books,' of which 'The Song of Los' is one component.
• Blake claimed to receive visions from God and angels from an early age, which profoundly influenced the content and style of his artwork and writing.
• He invented and employed a distinctive method of illuminated printing, combining his poetic text with intricate designs on copper plates, making each book a unique work of art.
• Blake was a staunch critic of the Industrial Revolution and the Enlightenment's overemphasis on empirical reason, believing these forces suppressed human imagination and spiritual insight.

Moral of the Story

The core moral of 'The Song of Los' is that unchecked reason and restrictive laws, while seemingly offering order and control, ultimately suppress human freedom, imagination, and the divine spirit inherent in every individual. True liberation, according to Blake, comes through the breaking of these chains, often instigated by revolutionary passion and the embrace of imaginative and sensual energies. It champions the power of art and prophecy (represented by Los) to awaken humanity from spiritual slumber and guide it towards a more complete, uninhibited existence. The book advocates for a holistic human experience, where reason is balanced by passion and imagination, rather than dominating or repressing them.

Curiosities

• 'The Song of Los' is one of Blake's shorter prophetic books, forming an integral part of a larger interconnected mythological cycle that includes 'The Book of Urizen,' 'The Book of Ahania,' and 'The Book of Los.' These works collectively elaborate on Blake's unique mythology of creation, the fall of humanity, and ultimate redemption.
• The work's geographical division into "Africa" and "Asia" reflects Blake's global scope, critiquing the universal spread of oppressive ideologies across continents and predicting a global spiritual revolution. The continents symbolize different stages in human spiritual and historical development.
• The "ten commands" of Urizen mentioned in the "Africa" section are a clear allegorical parallel to the Mosaic Ten Commandments, highlighting Blake's critique of what he saw as the restrictive and inhibiting nature of traditional religion and moral law.
• The "fires of Orc" melting Urizen's chains in the "Asia" section is a direct reference to the revolutionary fervor of the late 18th century, particularly the French Revolution, which Blake initially viewed as a harbinger of spiritual and political freedom, though he later grew disillusioned with its violent excesses.
• Like many of Blake's prophetic books, 'The Song of Los' was printed using his distinctive relief etching method, featuring both text and intricate hand-colored illustrations. These visual elements are considered integral to understanding the full scope and emotional impact of his message.