Songs of Experience: The Garden of Love 1794 - 1825

William Blake created "The Garden of Love" as part of his "Songs of Experience," a collection that critiques the oppressive societal norms of late 18th-century England. Blake was deeply critical of the Church's role in suppressing individual freedom and desire. In this illuminated poem, Blake juxtaposes an idyllic past with a grim present, lamenting the loss of innocence and joy. The chapel, built where he "used to play on the green," symbolizes the imposition of religious doctrine, shutting out natural human expression. The priests in black gowns represent the binding of "joys & desires". The emotional weight of this piece lies in Blake's personal sense of betrayal. Blake once said, "Sooner murder an infant in its cradle than nurse unacted desires," revealing his belief that repressed desires lead to spiritual and emotional death. "The Garden of Love" challenges traditional representations of piety, instead revealing the restrictive and somber realities of institutional control. It reflects societal issues of power and constraint, while echoing the emotional and personal dimensions of lost freedom.