NOW THE SNEAKING SERPENT WALKS: DIABOLIC AS A CREATION FORCE IN THE MARRIAGE OF HEAVEN AND HELL, BY WILLIAM BLAKE

Abstract

In The Marriage of Heaven and Hell (1790-1793), William Blake traces a flying route through the Universe. His muse, the “sneaking serpent”, supports the concept that ‘diabolic’ is not a synonym of ‘evil’ – nevertheless, it is an active springing of Energy, as, according to the poet, every existence is holy. This study understands the prophetic writing of a trip to the mystery as a way the poetic voice finds to stand up against Reason (Good), empowering himself in the Energy of Evil (or of Hell). Thereupon, it was adopted the idea of ‘devilish’ as a vital force, avoiding dogmatic and religious definitions of the term, a topic with which the author often struggled, especially considering his rupture with Emanuel Swedenborg’s thoughts. Another researched point encompasses distinct visual representations of the serpent in Blake’s illustrations, such as in “The Serpent Attacking Buoso Donatin” (1826-7, reprinted in 1892), and in “The Spiritual of Nelson Guiding Leviathan” (1805-1809). Both in written and pictorial artworks, the author asserts that the serpent symbolizes the sacred essence that lives in all profane things.

Keywords
Serpent; Diabolic; Energy; Lyric Self