The Circle of the Corrupt Officials; the Devils Mauling Each Other 1827

William Blake's copper engraving depicts a tumultuous scene of devils in a maelstrom of mutual destruction. Blake conjures the age-old motif of hell as a site of eternal punishment, and the devils who were cast down from heaven fight for supremacy over the wretched. Here, the image of devils devouring one another transcends mere representation; it embodies a deeper psychological truth about the self-destructive nature of corruption. This mirrors images of devouring that we can find in antiquity, such as Saturn eating one of his sons to avoid being dethroned by his offspring. Such tales symbolize the fear of mortality and the ravenous, insatiable hunger for power. In the context of Blake's engraving, this motif is a potent condemnation of the moral decay he observed in his own society. Ultimately, this print is a powerful reminder of the cyclical nature of corruption and its devastating consequences. It serves as a stark warning against the dangers of unchecked ambition and the destructive forces it unleashes, both within individuals and within society as a whole.