A Poison Tree Themes

The main themes in "A Poison Tree" are anger, suppression vs. expression, and God's wrath.

  • Anger: The poem does not argue that anger in and of itself is dangerous. Rather, it is the anger we refuse to relinquish that becomes toxic to ourselves and others.
  • Suppression vs. expression: The suppression of the speaker's feelings leads to his corruption. Though he also feels anger toward a friend, he is able to quickly resolve these feelings through confrontation.
  • God's wrath: The speaker may represent God, with the poison tree representing the biblical tree of knowledge. This reading suggests that God is vengeful and cruel.

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The Cultivation of Anger

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The main theme of "A Poison Tree" goes beyond just anger; it focuses on how suppressing anger can cause it to grow. In "A Poison Tree," hiding anger instead of expressing and recognizing it turns anger into a seed that begins to grow. By nurturing this seed and fueling it with the individual's energy, the anger gradually transforms into a potent and destructive force.

The Wrathfulness of the Old Testament God

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An essential theme in "A Poison Tree" is the depiction of the Old Testament God as a being of anger, craftiness, jealousy, and deception. Blake introduces this theme by alluding to the Genesis story of the Fall. The tree in the poem serves as a reminder of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. The glowing apple represents the forbidden fruit of that tree, which God prohibits Adam and Eve from eating, thereby increasing its allure. The garden where the enemy sneaks in symbolizes the Garden of Eden, where Adam and Eve secretly defy God. The speaker's disposition mirrors God's perspective. By portraying the poem's speaker in a way that echoes God, Blake challenges the notion of God as a loving figure, instead presenting Him as harsh.

Suppression versus Expression

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While "A Poison Tree" offers a moral lesson rather than simply criticizing religious systems, its main focus is not on anger itself. Instead, it illustrates that repressing emotions results in their corruption, the erosion of innocence, and the emergence of deceit and cunning. In Songs of Experience, including "A Poison Tree," Blake contends that religious teachings, which aim to instill virtue, particularly in children, are harsh and harmful. Furthermore, Blake depicts those who impose religious discipline as sadistic.

Hypocrisy

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Blake initially named "A Poison Tree" as "Christian Forbearance," indicating that what seems to be a kind demeanor can often hide contempt and anger. He believed that the devout behaviors promoted by traditional Christianity resulted in hypocrisy, leading people to act friendly and accepting when they were not. Blake contended that the moral standards advocated by conventional religion enabled individuals to hide malicious intentions and engage in harmful actions, such as hindering the healthy growth of children, all while maintaining an appearance of virtue.

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