The Four Zoas

The Four Zoas is an epic poem written by the English poet and artist William Blake. The work, which was completed in the early 1790s but remained unpublished until the 20th century, is considered one of Blake's most complex and ambitious works. The poem is divided into four parts, each of which represents a different aspect of the human soul, or ""zoa."" The four zoas are Urizen, who represents reason and law; Tharmas, who represents passion and desire; Luvah, who represents the emotions and the imagination; and Urthona, who represents creativity and the divine spark within humanity.The poem is set in a mythological world, where the zoas are in conflict with each other and with the forces of evil. The narrative follows the journey of the hero, Los, as he attempts to reconcile the zoas and restore balance to the universe. Along the way, he encounters a cast of characters, including Enitharmon, Los's lover and the embodiment of the feminine principle; Orc, the rebellious son of Luvah; and Albion, the fallen hero who represents the state of humanity in its fallen state.The Four Zoas is notable for its complex symbolism and its exploration of themes such as the nature of the human soul, the relationship between reason and imagination, and the struggle between good and evil. The poem is also significant for its use of Blake's unique artistic style, which combines poetry, mythology, and visual art to create a rich and immersive narrative.Urizen rose from the bright Feast like a star thro' the evening sky Exulting at the voice that calld him from the Feast of envy First he beheld the body of Man pale, cold, the horrors of death Beneath his feet shot thro' him as he stood in the Human Brain And all its golden porches grew pale with his sickening light No more Exulting for he saw Eternal Death beneath Pale he beheld futurity; pale he beheld the Abyss.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.