Infant Joy and The Fly: A Comparative Analysis
Infant Joy
Summary
This poem celebrates the joy of new life. A two-day-old baby, when asked its name, replies “Joy.” The mother blesses the baby, hoping joy will fill its life.
Metrics and Structure
The poem consists of two six-line stanzas with an ABCDDC rhyme scheme, unusual for Blake. The repetition of “thee” at the end of the fourth and sixth lines emphasizes the parent’s loving concern for the child. The baby’s words, set off by dashes, create a dialogue about the naming.
Themes
The baby naming itself reflects Blake’s belief in the self-determined human spirit finding bliss independent of social or religious constructs. This innocent baby naturally finds joy within.
Figurative Language
The poem is filled with exclamations (“Sweet joy befall thee!”, “Pretty joy!”, “Joy is my name!”), conveying pure, uncomplicated joy. Simple statements like “I have no name / I am but two days old” gain deeper meaning when infused with this powerful emotion. Blake portrays how the strongest feelings are often the simplest.
The Fly
Summary
The speaker compares himself to a fly he thoughtlessly brushed away. He questions their similarities and imagines a greater hand (perhaps God’s) ending his own life. He concludes that he is like the fly, not in insignificance, but in finding meaning in the natural world. He takes joy in existence, living in the present moment.
Themes
The poem explores themes of mortality, God’s power, and the meaning of life. It questions whether God controls death and celebrates the joy of simply being.
Metrics and Structure
The poem has five stanzas. The first four are ABCB quatrains, reflecting the brevity of life. The final stanza is AABB, adding a playful quality and offering a concluding moral.
Analysis
The first stanza describes the thoughtless brushing away of the fly. The second stanza explores the similarities between the speaker and the fly. The third stanza highlights their shared experience of living without worrying about death. The final two stanzas question who is happier: someone who thinks or someone who simply exists.
Figurative Language
The use of end rhyme (e.g., “Little fly/Thy summer’s play”) provides structure. The symbolism of the fly forces readers to question their own lives and the perceived superiority of humankind.