Blake's Antinomianism.

Abstract

This dissertation investigates the theological doctrines expressed and implied in the work and personal writings of William Blake. It follows up on proposals of various scholars--especially that of A. L. Morton in his monograph The Everlasting Gospel--that Blake's theology bears considerable resemblance to the Christian heresy known as antinomianism. This study focuses on the theological expressions in Blake's pre-1800 writings to demonstrate that Blake held antinomian beliefs from the start of his artistic career. A historical sketch of Christian antinomianism and a discussion of Blake criticism directly examining his theology provide evidence that he could have known about the antinomian heresy and apparently was influenced by it. A thorough discussion of the theology asserted and implied by his early personal and artistic writing develops in a comprehensive manner the thesis that the antinomian heresy is fundamental to Blake's work. Attention is given to sources for such antinomianism in what Blake read of Milton, Priestly, and Swedenborg. The rejection of the moral law, the salvation of all believers, and the temporal regeneration of humanity are demonstrated to have been crucial parts of Blake's personal beliefs: that these are the central doctrines of the antinomian heresy implies that Blake must have known and worked from such an interpretation of Christian theology. Finally, some of Blake's writings are investigated as carrying more-or-less the full weight of his antionomian beliefs; these include a lengthy marginal comment in his copy of Lavater's Aphorisms on Man, the poem "To Tirzah," and The Marriage of Heaven and Hell.