What are the three stages in Blake's interpretation of history ? (MEG 102) (BLAKE'S INTERPRETATION OF HISTORY)

William Blake's interpretation of history is divided into three stages, which he called the "fallen," "redeemed," and "eternal" states. These stages reflect Blake's view of the evolution of human consciousness and spiritual development.

The first stage, the "fallen" state, refers to the state of humanity after the fall from grace in the biblical story of Adam and Eve. In this stage, humanity is trapped in a world of materialism, rationality, and moral corruption. Blake believed that the dominant values of his time, including reason and industrialization, were the result of this fallen state.

The second stage, the "redeemed" state, is a transitional stage in which humanity begins to awaken to its true spiritual nature. This stage is characterized by a rejection of the dominant values of the fallen state and a renewed emphasis on imagination, intuition, and spiritual vision. Blake believed that this stage was essential for humanity to move beyond its current state of spiritual and moral corruption.

The third and final stage, the "eternal" state, represents the culmination of human spiritual evolution. In this stage, humanity is fully awakened to its true spiritual nature and is able to live in harmony with the divine. Blake believed that this stage was possible but would require a radical transformation of society and culture, as well as a renewed emphasis on the values of imagination, intuition, and spiritual vision.

Overall, Blake's interpretation of history reflects his belief in the transformative power of the imagination and the possibility of spiritual evolution. He saw the three stages as interconnected and believed that humanity had the potential to move beyond its current state of fallenness and achieve a state of spiritual and moral redemption.