William Blake presented the poems "The Lamb" and "The Tyger" from the Songs of Innocence and the Songs of Experience respectively, as two entities that are inseparable. There seems to be a bond so strong that connects the two different and contrary states; and this is what Blake would want his readers to decipher.
If it were for me, I would relate those persona portrayed by the Lamb and the Tyger as the dual personality of innate in every person. These are the two warring states of the human mind. Quoting Freud, I would consider "The Lamb" as the superego while "The Tyger" as the id. To justify, the lamb, as presented in the poem is the cloudless youth, free from any form of embellishments, the naive and the inexperienced state. Similar as the person's superego, having known all the do's and the dont's imposed upon by the society, the person tend to allow himself to be cloudless, be naive, be inexperienced just so in doing, he would be able to conform to the these demands. Thus, the two (i.e. the lamb and the tyger) both allow themselves to be hindered by these given factors; leaving them both a feeling of innocence for they often times don't walk the extra miles for they fear committing mistakes.
In contrast, the Tyger, as presented in the poem, is the fierceful, tenacious and experienced side of the dualism. Never hesitant on which walk to take; never thought on how others would react just as they would and they could satisfy suffice themselves with their longings. Just like the person's id, which is governed by the principles of pleasure, it's major aim is to satisfy one's cravings without even considering what would be at stake upon their actions.
But then, these personas are present in every person, thus, every person has both the positive and the negative side. It is up to the ego, or the mind (to situate), to weigh their options on which among these two contradicting states should be considered and attended first. Afterall, it is simply an issue on setting priorities.
If it were for me, I would relate those persona portrayed by the Lamb and the Tyger as the dual personality of innate in every person. These are the two warring states of the human mind. Quoting Freud, I would consider "The Lamb" as the superego while "The Tyger" as the id. To justify, the lamb, as presented in the poem is the cloudless youth, free from any form of embellishments, the naive and the inexperienced state. Similar as the person's superego, having known all the do's and the dont's imposed upon by the society, the person tend to allow himself to be cloudless, be naive, be inexperienced just so in doing, he would be able to conform to the these demands. Thus, the two (i.e. the lamb and the tyger) both allow themselves to be hindered by these given factors; leaving them both a feeling of innocence for they often times don't walk the extra miles for they fear committing mistakes.
In contrast, the Tyger, as presented in the poem, is the fierceful, tenacious and experienced side of the dualism. Never hesitant on which walk to take; never thought on how others would react just as they would and they could satisfy suffice themselves with their longings. Just like the person's id, which is governed by the principles of pleasure, it's major aim is to satisfy one's cravings without even considering what would be at stake upon their actions.
But then, these personas are present in every person, thus, every person has both the positive and the negative side. It is up to the ego, or the mind (to situate), to weigh their options on which among these two contradicting states should be considered and attended first. Afterall, it is simply an issue on setting priorities.
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