Innocence and Experience in "The Lamb"

Paper Summary:

This essay deconstructs the notion of innocence in William Blake's poem The Lamb to demonstrate that in order represent innocence, it must first be corrupted by experience.

From the Paper:

"Songs of Innocence and Experience, which appeared in 1794 as a part of William Blake's Illuminated Series, explores the human progression from innocence to experience. It was Blake's belief that wisdom was found in innocence and that experience was mere disillusionment. Accordingly, much of the poetry and artwork in the Songs depicts the fall of Adam and Eve from innocence to experience. Blake held the belief that innocence was the natural and God-like state of existence whereas experience was a result of sin. The simplicity and joyful nature of the poems in Songs of Innocence demonstrate this belief. "The Lamb," for example, which appears in Songs of Innocence, has often been celebrated for its joyful and simple innocence."

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