SOURCE: "Bible of Energy: The Marriage of Heaven and Hell," in The Visionary Company: A Reading of English Romantic Poetry, Cornell University Press, 1971, pp. 64-70.

In the following excerpt, Bloom situates The Marriage of Heaven and Hell in the historical context of revolution both in America and in France during an age fearful of the energy that Blake celebrates.

As The Book of Isaiah gathers to its judging climax, a red figure comes out of Edom, moving in the greatness of his strength. His garments are like those of one who treads in the wine vat, the day of vengeance is in his heart, and the year of his redeemed is come. This apocalyptic figure is the red Orc of Blake's symbolism, an upsurge of the Hell of desire against the Heaven of restraint. In 1790, Edom is France and Orc the spirit of revolt which has moved first...