William Blake - The Human Abstract

Capitalisation in the poem:

The capitalisation in The Human Abstract draws attention to the 7 qualities described in the poem, Pity, Mercy, Peace, Cruelty, Humility, Mystery and Deceit. Capitalising these qualities gives them an increased importance in the reader's mind while reading the poem, as it transforms the qualities from being abstract to tangible reality.

Effect of the pronoun "we":

The use of the collective pronoun "we" in the poem is used to include the reader and human society in the poem. For example, the use of "we" in stanza 1 in reference to Pity and Mercy, "If we did not make somebody poor," and "if all were as happy as we" suggests that our actions, the actions of the human race necessitate Pity and Mercy.

In The Divine Image, which is the complementary poem to The Human Abstract in Songs of Innocence, Pity and Mercy are presented to the reader as good, divine qualities that all humans possess. However in this poem, Pity and Mercy arise as a direct result of poverty and unhappiness.

By using the pronoun "we" at the very beginning of the poem, Blake ensures that the reader has themselves and society in mind while reading the rest of the poem, creating links between themselves and the qualities mentioned after stanza 1

Effect of the metaphor tied to the idea of Mystery:

Mystery is described as "[spreading] a dismal shade," creating a contrast between light and dark. That is to say, Mystery is casting shadows, therefore it is spreading uncertainty.

"And the caterpillar and fly / Feed on this Mystery," - caterpillars and flies are insects, pests. This could be a reference to society, and that uncertainty and mystery are nourishment for those who resemble pests, or that Mystery is a negative feeling to spread because it is only fit for insects to feed on.

The connotations of the raven

A raven is a large, black, crow (left) which feeds on carrion - the decaying flesh of other animals. As such, a raven often symbolises darkness, death and evil.

The raven in The Human Abstract has made his nest in Deceit's "thickest shade", implying that it is lurking in the shadows, waiting for death to occur. The image created by placing a pitch-black scavenger bird in thick shadows is one of a predator lying in wait for fresh meat.

This relates to the quality of Deceit, which is about making people the victims of a lie, suggesting that the raven is lying in wait to feed off the victims of deceit.

Why the fruit of Deceit is sweet and the effect this has syntactically and on the meaning conveyed:

The metaphor of Deceit as a fruit that is "Ruddy and sweet to eat,"

relates directly to the duplicitousness of Deceit. Lies seem good on their surface because it is intended that we accept the lie, and they seem "sweet" because they should seem to somehow work in our favour in order for us to ingest them completely, much like how we eat fruits which look appealing, and continue to eat them because their taste agrees with us.

Deceit seems positive when presented as a fruit that is ruddy and sweet, however the intent behind its growth is not. "Ruddy" calls to mind an apple, and the general metaphor of this tree growing in the poem suggests that Tree of Knowledge in the Garden of Eden. God told Adam and Eve not to eat the apples from the Tree, however Eve was persuaded, through the deceit of the Serpent to eat the apple, and thus Adam and Eve gained original sin, a taint they then passed down to the human race.

What Humility is and why it "takes root" underneath Cruelty's foot, and what it communicates to the reader:

One interpretation of humility is that it is the lowering of one's own importance. Looking at it this way, we can interpret that Humility taking root at the feet of Cruelty suggests that, as a result of Cruelty, our selves are lowered in status and importance. Or that Cruelty forces people into submission.

Humility can also be viewed positively - we can say that someone has humility if they are modest and humble. Because Humility is the "root" of the tree, perhaps this means that humility is within us all, or is the "base" from which we all stared. However, if "watered" with the tears of Cruelty the way plants may be watered in a garden, out of the Humility grows the shade of Mystery and the fruit of Deceit.