London
William Blake (1757-18-27)
radical --> had wildly unpopular ideas in his time --> critical of the rich's lives of luxury compared to the suffering of the poor
key figure in the romantic movement - concerned with individualism, creative freedom, nature
poor/lacked formal education
anti-establishment
a revolutionary; he believed in the power of freedom, imagination and nature
Killer Quotes
"mind-forged manacles"
"blood down palace walls"
"marriage-hearse"
metaphor
chromesthesic quality
Upper class character who has time to stroll around and do nothing
against religion and saw the Church as corrupt
The speaker describes his experience of walking through the streets of London struck by the poverty, disease and misery he sees and expresses anger at those in power who have done nothing to help
observer of life in London
signifies rejection
metaphor emphasises that the monarchy are guilty of living in luxury whilst doing nothing to alleviate the struggles of the city
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Influenced by the French Revolution ---> saw it as the mark of a wonderful new beginning --> in response the authorities in London limited freedom of expression to prevent a repeat in their country ---> referred to through the links to the streets being "chartered" and the "mind forged manacles"
London was published in the "Song of Experience" collection
Blake wrote two famous groups of poems - "Songs of innocence" (childhood, nature, positive) and "Songs of Experience"(dark tone, focused on corruption of society)
key concepts
impact of industrialisation --> reference to chimney sweepers (young children) reminds readers of the price people paid for urbanisation due to Industrial Revolution
being trapped --> inhabitants of London are trapped in the suffering --> consistently reinforced by Blake using a semantic field of entrapment and imprisonment --> suggests that the poor can't escape their circumstances
church & monarchy --> quite critical of powerful institutions have a supposed duty to the people of London they contribute to their oppression rather than relieving it --> critical of institutions for spending money on buildings and luxuries when there is so much suffering and poverty on their doorstep
oxymoron
supporting quotes
"chimney sweeper's cry ... black'ning church" --> colour imagery is associated with ideas of corruption ( the church are supposed to help the poor yet they take advantage) and even death
Structure and form
dramatic monologue --> reader gets a strong sense of the speaker's personal anger and frustration about the pain he sees around him
people are trapped by their own attitudes which prevent them from living better lives
"Chartered streets...chartered Thames..." --> trapped imagery, everything is listed and regulated --> repetition of "chartered" highlights the extent of government authority: they even have control over rivers which are usually associated with nature and freedom
"marks of weakness, marks of woe" --> emotive language expresses not only the extent of the suffering but also Blake's anger at the institutions that fail to help
"In every cry of every Man/ In every Infant's cry of fear" --> emotive language expresses not only the extent of the suffering but also Blake's anger at the institutions that fail to help --> repetition of "every" (anaphora) throughout emphasises that the problem is widespread
Comparisons
Human power and the misuse of power: My Last Duchess or Ozymandias
Unpleasant and/or powerful experiences: The Prelude, Exposure, Bayonet Charge, Remains
It is the soldier's blood - left bleeding as the monarchy has shut the doors. The soldier's identity isn't shared as a he could be a soldier of the state or a revolutionary but it doesn't matter as they are disposable tools. This evokes the suffering of soldiers sent to fight for their country.
helps to highlight the pollution generated by increasing industrialisation but also symbolises the hypocrisy which stains the reputation of the church
an act which is supposed to promise new life instead only promises death
"youthful harlot's curse" --> shows how young women are exploited and suggests the transmission of STDs, again presenting London to be a place which torments its inhabitants
psychological pressures
techniques
emotive language --> expresses both the extent of the suffering and Blake's anger at the institutions that fail to help --> "weakness", "woe", "in every infant's cry of fear", "blasts the newborn infant's tear"
sensory language --> used to bring the horror of London at this time alive --> "cry of fear" or "marks of weakness, marks of woe"
vivid language --> "curse" or "blast" exacerbate the horrors of London
Repetition of "every" throughout heightens the sense that the problem is widespread
The sound of thousands of children crying morphs into a wall of colour as the sound is too intense
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The colour of soot sticks to the outside wall of the church ( a place of sanctuary) as they have closed the doors on them therefore the child chimney sweepers (who were allowed to suffer in terrible working conditions) are returning the favour. It is a metaphor for neglect and mass protest
"youthful" --> could be very young (e.g. ten years old) left ambiguous
repetition to emphaise the misery and due to the intensity
"manacles" --> the poor feel imprisoned and are too hopeless to fight so succumb to their role in society, it has been drilled into them, they have become prisoners of their own mind
enjambment makes the liens seamlessly flow helps to blur the sound into colour to achieve chromesthesic quality