Wednesday, October 07, 2009

Who is Rintrah?

Library of Congress
Europe
Plate 8
 In Blake's poetry Rintrah is mentioned 48 times, first
in MHH, then in Europe, the Four Zoas, Milton, and
Jerusalem. He obviously had a special meaning to
Blake, but shades and nuances of the meaning occurred
throughout.

1, At the beginning (and end) of MHH Rintrah roared;
perhaps in his mind at that moment Rintrah represented
the angry young man who would write the revolutionary
material just ahead.

2. In plates 5 and 8 of Europe Rintrah is pictured as a
mailed knight of the queens of England and France,
daughters of Enitharmon, who entice Rintrah into the
hideous war between the two countries.

3. Rintrah's identity is best seen in the Four Zoas:

"And these are the Sons of Los & Enitharmon. Rintrah Palamabron
Theotormon Bromion Antamon Ananton Ozoth Ohana
Sotha Mydon Ellayol Natho Gon Harhath Satan
Har Ochim Ijim Adam Reuben Simeon Levi Judah Dan Naphtali
Gad Asher Issachar Zebulun Joseph Benjamin David Solomon
Paul Constantine Charlemaine Luther Milton"
(FZ8-107.6 Erdman 380)

4. At the beginning of Milton (Plates 3-7) we have The
Bard's Song. Rintrah has a prominent place here.
Enitharmon - The Shadowy Female - has brought forth all
Los's Family: Orc, Rintrah, Palamabron, and finally
Satan. We see these last three in Plate 10. Satan is the fiery 
one; Rintrah is next, and behind Rintrah is his peaceable 
brother, Palamabron.

(Elsewhere Blake referred to Satan as a state, not an
individual. He is the 'state of Error'.)
.

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