Mock on, mock on Voltaire, Rousseau

While not a long work, William Blake's "Mock On, Mock On, Voltaire, Rousseau" is a powerful poem that encapsulates his critique of the Enlightenment's emphasis on reason and its neglect of imagination and spiritual experience.

The poem uses the figures of Voltaire and Rousseau, prominent Enlightenment thinkers, to represent the limitations of purely rational approaches to understanding the world.

Blake's use of imagery and symbolism highlights the inherent mysteries of existence and the importance of embracing the spiritual and imaginative dimensions of life.

The poem's brevity belies its profound message, making it a concise yet impactful statement of Romantic ideals.

It serves as a potent counterpoint to the Enlightenment's emphasis on pure reason.