What is the relationship between innocence and experience as Blake sees it? (MEG 102) (WILLIAM BLAKE)

For William Blake, innocence and experience are two contrasting states of being that are fundamental to human consciousness and perception. In Blake's view, innocence is a state of pure, uncorrupted perception that is characterized by an intuitive understanding of the world and a deep sense of wonder and awe. Experience, on the other hand, is a state of consciousness that is marked by knowledge, rationality, and a loss of innocence.

Blake believed that the journey from innocence to experience was a necessary and inevitable part of human development, but he also saw it as a process that could lead to a loss of spiritual and creative vitality. In his poetry and art, Blake often depicted the fall from innocence as a tragic event that results in a separation from the divine and a loss of imaginative power.

However, Blake also believed that the journey from experience back to innocence was possible through a process of spiritual renewal and regeneration. By embracing the power of the imagination and reconnecting with the divine, humans could rediscover their sense of wonder and awe and return to a state of innocence.

Overall, Blake saw the relationship between innocence and experience as a complex and dynamic one, with each state of consciousness offering its own unique insights and challenges. However, he also believed that the ultimate goal of human existence was to achieve a state of innocence that was informed by the wisdom and understanding gained through experience.