The Book of Urizen (1958)
Title
The Book of Urizen (1958)
Original Date:
1794
Facsimile Date:
1958
Publisher:
Trianon Press
Physical Description:
27 plates ; 30 cm.
Background Information:
Although The Book of Urizen was composed in 1794, the copy chosen for reproduction by the Trianon Press in 1958 (copy G) is a later watercolored print. Union College holds two copies of this work, which were donated by Hans Rozendaal and Walter Tower. Copy 2 includes the Trianon Press prospectus for their project.
Student Commentary:
Overview: The Book of Urizen is a creation story that takes place within the Blakean universe. It begins with Urizen assuming solitary power within the empty universe as the “primeval priest”. He is tasked with creating the rest of the universe. In solitude, he creates the natural world and its inhabitants, as well as “terrors”, monster-like creatures that roam this new world. Urizen attempts to govern these terrors and the human inhabitants by creating a Book of Solitude which contains laws that he hopes his new creations will abide by. However, this book is stolen by Rage, and from this theft comes the creation of the 7 Deadly Sins who work in tandem to destroy the new world with fire and darkness. Urizen, ashamed of his creations, is chained and imprisoned by Los, and seven ages pass before Los feels any remorse. Los’s pity creates an abyss which he fills with the female Enitharmon, created from his own tears and blood. Enitharmon eventually gives birth to a serpent who transforms into the human Orc, a symbol of revolution in Blake’s later works. The poem ends with Orc being imprisoned along with Urizen, who hears the voice of a child and awakens to create Religion for the humans within his universe. The alternate God figure, Fuzon, ends the poem by commanding all inhabitants of the world to leave Egypt. – Jessica Rosenthal ‘18