Blake, Kierkegaard, and the Spectre of Dialectic

by Lorraine Clark

Overview

This study traces affinities between the late prophetic poems of William Blake and the work of the philosopher Soren Kierkegaard. Both feature concepts (the Spectre fought by Blake's poet-prophet Los, and Kierkegaard's idea of "dread") embodying a spirit of philosophical negation, skepticism, and dialectic which the writers sought to resist. Lorraine Clark uses Kierkegaard's philosophy to illuminate Blake's prophecies, showing that both offer the basis for a profound critique of romanticism, while themselves partaking of some of the ideals and tensions central to our understanding of the romantic movement.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780521395090
Publisher:	Cambridge University Press
Publication date:	11/07/1991
Pages:	252
Product dimensions:	5.98(w) x 9.02(h) x 0.67(d)

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements; A note on texts and abbreviations; Introduction; 1. The spectre and the logic of error; 2. The spectre as Kierkegaard's concept of dread; 3. The spectre and the line of life; 4. Mastered irony as the ground of human community; 5. Irony and authority; Conclusion; Los and the spectre: master and slave in the labour of the negative; Notes; Bibliography.

Editorial Reviews

"Lorraine Clark has given us an exhaustive appreciation of the enduring value of Blake's poetic and philosophical contribution. Kierkegaard is used as a convincing analogue that helps us understand the complex anti- and pro-

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