Tag Archives: William Blake

The Evangelical Rose Is Sick

By Robin Bates | Published: November 19, 2017

Many rightwing evangelicals are selling their souls for Trumpism. William Blake would have something to say about that.

Posted in Uncategorized | Also tagged "Holy Thursday", "Sick Rose", Donald Trump, London, rightwing Christianity, Roy Moore | Comments closed

Rightwing Evangelicals Bind with Briars

By Robin Bates | Published: October 29, 2017

Studies show that college does not turn young people away from religion. In fact, literature and humanities courses can strengthen faith.

Posted in Uncategorized | Also tagged "Garden of Love", "poem in praise of menstruation", Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Jane Austen, Lucille Clifton, Pride and Prejudice, Purple Hibiscus, rightwing Christianity, rightwing evangelicals | Comments closed

Wordsworth and a Depressed Philosopher

By Robin Bates | Published: October 5, 2017

When utilitarian John Stuart Mill’s philosophy led him into despair, Wordsworth’s poetry saved him.

Posted in Uncategorized | Also tagged "Mock on, Aldous Huxley, Brave New World, Depression, Englightenment, Giver, Jeremy Bentham, John Stuart Mill, Lois Lowry, Tintern Abbey, Ursula K. LeGuin, utilitarianism, William Wordsworth | Comments closed

Milton Understood Ambitious Con Men

By Robin Bates | Published: March 28, 2017

A recent “Atlantic” article argues that Milton’s Satan is quintessentially American, with the archangel as both rugged individualist and honey-tongued con man. Sounds a lot like our current president.

Posted in Uncategorized | Also tagged Donald Trump, John Milton, Paradise Lost | Comments closed

Immigrants Face a Sophie’s Choice

By Robin Bates | Published: March 8, 2017

Republicans have recently been outdoing themselves in cruelty, both regarding immigration and health care. William Styron and William Blake weigh in.

Posted in Uncategorized | Also tagged "Chimney-Sweeper", GOP, immigrants, Obamacare, Sophie's Choice, William Styron | Comments closed

The Twisted Fingers Letting Go

By Robin Bates | Published: November 26, 2016

Catherine Alder has a beautiful poem in which she calls upon us to unclench our fists. I reflect also upon two other works that feature clenched fists, Blake’s “Grey Monk” and George MacDonald’s “Lilith.”

Posted in Uncategorized | Also tagged "Advent Hands", "Grey Monk", Advent, Catherine Alder, George MacDonald, Hands, Lilith, St. Joseph | Comments closed

All Must Love the Human Form

By Robin Bates | Published: November 19, 2016

In “The Divine Image,” Blake gives us a poem for our time, a call to pray for mercy, pity, peace, and love and to recognize the human form in diversity. In “The Human Abstract” he adds that prayer is not enough. It must be accompanied by human justice.

Posted in Uncategorized | Also tagged "Divine Image", "Human Abstract", Abortion, analysis, Christian Right, classism, homophobia, Islamophobia, Jeff Sessions, Michael Flynn, politics, racism, Steve Bannon | Comments closed

Teachers, Don’t Nip Their Buds

By Robin Bates | Published: August 24, 2016

In “Songs of Experience,” William Blake worries that authority figures will nip the promise of budding schoolboys. “The Schoolboy” serves as a timely reminder for all teachers.

Posted in Uncategorized | Also tagged "Schoolboy", Education, public schools, schooling, teachers and teaching | Comments closed

Ted Cruz–Dark and Satanic?

By Robin Bates | Published: January 14, 2016

When NYT columnist David Brooks called Ted Cruz “dark and satanic,” he was referencing a Blake poem. But although the allusion is apt, it struck most people as weird or offensive because they didn’t recognize the source.

Posted in Uncategorized | Also tagged "Jerusalem", David Brooks, electoral politics, GOP primary, Marco Rubio, politics, Ted Cruz | Comments closed