ABSTRACT
Kathleen Long makes her debut in the major revisions that transform Vala into The Four Zoas, turning the nature goddess Vala into the female aspect of a hermaphroditic creature that William Blake identifies with the Babylon harlot in John's Apocalypse. Although Rahab occupies a distinct role and develops a unique character in The Four Zoas, she retains a number of symbolic features in Milton and Jerusalem: she is named Mystery Babylon, she plays the harlot with the kings of the earth, she wields the cup of religion, and she crucifies the Lamb of God. Author shows that two important details indicate that Rahab is present within Mystery as she is destroyed: Blake twice uses the image of 'pomp' as the target of Tharmas's anger, a term used to characterize Rahab's interrogation of Los in Night the Eighth, the image of Mystery's women spoiled of their beauty echoes the imagery in Ezekiel.
