The poet William Blake wrote "The Clod and the Pebble". In this poem Blake expresses his ideas of what love should be and how the concept of love is perverted. The two speakers in this poem is a clod of clay and a pebble from a brook. Blake portrays this idea of what love should be and how the concept of love is misconceived through symbolism, the phrases that he uses, and word choice.
One of Blake's key speakers in this poem is a clod of clay. This clod of clay symbolizes people that may be less fortunate and need to work hard for a living, which is shown in line 6 "Trodden with the cattle's feet," Blake shows that these people understand their roles in life and still remain optimistic. While the pebble in a brook represents those who live more comfortably, but has a pessimistic attitude and view on life.
The artist and poet William Blake, who lived in He...
Monument near Blake's unmarked grave at Bunhill Fi...
A plate, numbered 39 "The Sick Rose", from the son...The people that are represented by the clod of clay appreciate love and see it as a beautiful and special gift that improves life shown in line 4 "And builds a Heaven in Hell's despair." On the other hand, those who are represented by the pebble view love as an open window for more hurt and more despair in line 11 "And builds a Hell n Heaven's despite".
In this poem, Blake uses phrases to portray his view on love through the clod of clay. In lines 1-5 Blake states his view of what love should be "Love seeketh not Itself to please, Nor for itself hath any care, But for another gives its ease, And builds a Heaven in Hell's despair." Meaning that regardless of all the terrible things that occurs in the world love endures and can overcome all obstacles. Blake also expresses that...