# William Blake — Practical Mysticism character guide

> William Blake in Practical Mysticism by Evelyn Underhill.

**Role:** minor

**Also known as:** William Blake, Blake

**First appearance:** 0005-ii-the-world-of-reality

## Who they are

Poet and artist whose visionary works illustrate mystical perception.

## Relationships

### [The Practical Man](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/practical_mysticism_se/characters/the_practical_man)

_psychological_

This repeated interaction underscores Blake's role as the Practical Man's primary spiritual antagonist, forcing him to confront the limits of reason.

### [Julian of Norwich](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/practical_mysticism_se/characters/julian_of_norwich)

_friendship_

Julian's optimistic, all-embracing vision of divine love resonates with Blake's own radical, imaginative theology.

### [Walt Whitman](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/practical_mysticism_se/characters/walt_whitman)

_friendship_

Both poets celebrate the body, nature, and a democratic, mystical vision of humanity, sharing a kindred spirit.

### [Plotinus](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/practical_mysticism_se/characters/plotinus)

_friendship_

Blake's visionary cosmology echoes Plotinus's emanationist philosophy, suggesting a shared metaphysical lineage.

### [The Practical Man](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/practical_mysticism_se/characters/the_practical_man)

_psychological_

The Practical Man is repeatedly confronted by Blake's mystical visions, creating a tension between pragmatic skepticism and imaginative transcendence.

## In the story

### [Epigraph](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/practical_mysticism_se/chapters/epigraph)

Author of the epigraph, calling for a cleansing of perception to see the infinite.

### [I: What Is Mysticism?](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/practical_mysticism_se/chapters/i-what-is-mysticism)

Listed among mystics who exhibit different forms of contemplative consciousness.

### [The World of Reality](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/practical_mysticism_se/chapters/ii-the-world-of-reality)

Blake is cited for his aphorism 'If the doors of perception were cleansed, everything would appear to man as it is—Infinite,' emphasizing the need to cleanse perception from mental cobwebs.

### [The First Form of Contemplation](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/practical_mysticism_se/chapters/vii-the-first-form-of-contemplation)

William Blake is noted for his philosophy urging exchange of the false world of 'Nature' for the true world of 'Imagination,' and for describing a simplified state of consciousness.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/practical_mysticism_se/characters/william_blake
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/practical_mysticism_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/practical_mysticism_se/characters