Daughters of Albion

Imagination, as a metaphysical element, must be a balance between reality and romantic thought in order to be enlightened as the idea is developed and later manifested in the “Daughters of Albion.” William Blake, like Wallace Stevens, conveys in the text his view that the lack of imagination in contemporary humanity acts as enslavement to oppressive ideas, thoughts, and actions.

Romantic thought, as developed in Wallace Stevens’ essay, is simply full of random, unintelligent ideas. Stevens states, “In romantic thought the theory of poetic imagination has reached its climax.” Such romantic thought is colloquial and not sophisticated. Blake utilizes his three characters, Theotormon, Oothoon, and Bromion, as distinguished modern conceits. Theotormon is incapable of balancing reality and fantasy; therefore, he becomes a victim of romantic thought. Theotormon, instead, is controlled by his religion; hence, prohibiting the possibility of achieving “joys” in life. Theotormon is desperately lacking the power of intellect and imagination to “improve the human condition” by refusing to rationalize his personal ideas to forgive Oothoon for her actions.

Wallace Stevens believes a person may only be enlightened if a counterbalance exists between the imagination and reality. To be able to obtain this equity, the liberty of mind must occur. Oothoon’s ability to make a rational conclusion reveals her liberty of mind. Oothoon, as developed in the “Daughters of Albion”, embodies the slave like status of women in the modern male-dominated world. Oothoon blames the rigid uniform laws instilled by religion to explain Theotormon’s refusal to forgive her. Although she is literally bound to Bromion,