Clod and the Pebble

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The Clod and the Pebble The message conveyed by the poem “The Clod and the Pebble” is dependent on personal interpretation of love. Blake’s presentation of the clod of clay and the pebble through symbolism demonstrates how the perspective on love can depend on life experience. Following that idea, one who has experienced and perhaps been hardened by love might believe that love is selfish and by believing so, act selfishly. However, one who is new and perhaps soft” to the experience of love, might believe that love is selfless and continue to believe so until he or she is hardened by experience of love. Regardless of interpretation, the poem presents a very old and important question - Are things what we make them or does experience make us? The clod of clay, which speaks first in the poem, represents a naïve perception of the world. The clod of clay also offers a sort of self-denying version of love. The clod is malleable and therefore is chosen quite appropriately to represent unselfish love. The choice of using a clod to represent soft love is important because a clod is a lump or earth or clay which is easily malleable and soft. The clod of clay is the mother which suggests a feminine viewpoint of love which is understandable after reading the entire poem .The clod symbolizes innocence to the experience of love. The pebble’s verse is highly satirical, mocking the clod’s innocence and grandiose ideals. The comments are contrary to the clods, imitating the speech and structure by stating that love is selfish. The pebble displays a sense of hope and selflessness, which based on the pebble’s perspective, diminish with experience. In the poem, the clod of clay is “trodden with cattle’s feet” which represents its true, self-sacrificing nature. However, as stated in the previous stanza, despite its sacrifices the clod of clay makes a “heaven in hell’s despair.” The

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