William Blake’s illuminated mythology in America: A Prophecy
Boston’s Angel in America
Boston’s Angel speaks after the thirteen Angels rise in anger at Orc’s fires. Instead of renewing obedience, he asks why the generous must surrender their joys and experience to those who hoard the fruits of labour. His questions turn upon a power that speaks of peace while clothing itself in a tempest, and upon a preaching voice that demands abstinence while feeding on lambs. He then tears off his robe and throws down his sceptre. The thirteen Angels follow his gesture, descending towards America before the advancing red fire. His refusal gives Blake’s angelic conflict an ethical argument about generosity, authority and who is allowed to experience life.
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In the sources
Questions directed at authority
DocumentedThe Angel’s speech protests against the generous losing their joys and asks what power keeps experience from them.
Robes and sceptres discarded
DocumentedAfter the speech, he rends his robe and throws down his sceptre; all thirteen Angels then tear their robes and cast down their sceptres.
Context & interpretation
Boston’s Angel is a figure in Blake’s political and visionary poem. The entry does not claim a documented guardian angel of the historical city or identify a particular revolutionary person as the figure’s literal original.
Original passages
Source 1
America: A Prophecy
no more I follow, no more obedience pay!Open this page in the book
Passage & edition details
Location recorded at citation review: William Blake, America: A Prophecy, Prophecy, Boston’s Angel’s speech; source scan leaf 31 (unpaginated illuminated text)
Actual full scanned leaf inspected and text read within the complete available Preludium/Prophecy sequence. Reproduced title bears1793; physical reproduction date not inferred. / marks a line break.
- Edition
- IMJ-0268-E001
- Reader page
- IMJ-0268-E001-P0015
- Original scan leaf
- 31
- Recorded leaf number
- 31
- Current Reader position
- 16
- Reader verification
- Matches the reviewed Reader
Source 2
America: A Prophecy
So cried he, rending off his robe & throwing down his scepter.Open this page in the book
Passage & edition details
Location recorded at citation review: William Blake, America: A Prophecy, Prophecy, leaf following Boston’s Angel’s speech; source scan leaf 33 (unpaginated illuminated text)
Actual full scanned leaf inspected and text read within the complete available Preludium/Prophecy sequence. Reproduced title bears1793; physical reproduction date not inferred. / marks a line break.
- Edition
- IMJ-0268-E001
- Reader page
- IMJ-0268-E001-P0016
- Original scan leaf
- 33
- Recorded leaf number
- 33
- Current Reader position
- 17
- Reader verification
- Matches the reviewed Reader