Cartesian Dichotomy
In William Blake’s work, Songs of Innocence and of Experience, there is a smaller poem within lasting only 28 lines, but still somehow managed to make a global impression; this work is called The Little Black Boy. This poem made an impact in a variety of ways, some of which being its contribution to the romantic movement as simply a work of literature, another as pushing Christian morals and values, and even attacking societal views of slavery and racial inequality. The basis of this story is that a young back child who has had to endure what many white boys would never even imagine, somehow finds comfort in his mother’s words of faith encouraging him to persevere and use his experience to help others. During this time the concept of a black
…show more content…
Her belief particularly in a Christ who demands suffering and the denial of desire” (Greco 13). Greco believes that the boy’s mother is giving the child a false sense of hope in a God that requires one to first suffer to eventually find peace. This belief has become common in the 21st century; another critic Ali Gunes in her work The Deconstruction of the Cartesian Dichotomy of Black and White in William Blake’s “The Little Black Boy” argues a point similar to that of Greco. Gunes says, “The black boy’s mother, who, in fact, represents religious voice in Blake’s The Little Black Boy, seems very innocent and naïve in her views and endeavors to soothe the disturbed feeling of her son by telling him the status of both black and white in the sight of God” (Gunes 150). Gunes too believes that religious comfort is idle and there is no use for it, as it only gives false hope. Although a possibility, Blake seemed very contrary to that opinion. Blake wrote under the pretense that there was hope for those being oppressed, and if it is through Christ, then so be it. In addition, although being a Christian view, Blake ultimately strived for the equality that the mother so adamantly believed Christ gave. With this Blake was introducing the concept to those who may have been opposed, countering the false teaching of many churches in this time period
Her belief particularly in a Christ who demands suffering and the denial of desire” (Greco 13). Greco believes that the boy’s mother is giving the child a false sense of hope in a God that requires one to first suffer to eventually find peace. This belief has become common in the 21st century; another critic Ali Gunes in her work The Deconstruction of the Cartesian Dichotomy of Black and White in William Blake’s “The Little Black Boy” argues a point similar to that of Greco. Gunes says, “The black boy’s mother, who, in fact, represents religious voice in Blake’s The Little Black Boy, seems very innocent and naïve in her views and endeavors to soothe the disturbed feeling of her son by telling him the status of both black and white in the sight of God” (Gunes 150). Gunes too believes that religious comfort is idle and there is no use for it, as it only gives false hope. Although a possibility, Blake seemed very contrary to that opinion. Blake wrote under the pretense that there was hope for those being oppressed, and if it is through Christ, then so be it. In addition, although being a Christian view, Blake ultimately strived for the equality that the mother so adamantly believed Christ gave. With this Blake was introducing the concept to those who may have been opposed, countering the false teaching of many churches in this time period