London

Poetry | William Blake

How Does Blake Criticize Society in the Poem "London"?

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How does Blake criticize society in the poem London William Blake's - poem London is a part of his collection Songs of Experience published in In this poem Blake criticizes London's social political and economic conditions during the late th century The poem reflects Blake's dissatisfaction with the state of London and his concern for the well-being of its inhabitants Urban Poverty and Suffering Blake highlights the presence of poverty and suffering among the common people He mentions the hapless soldier's sigh and the palace walls that witness the less privileged's misery How the Chimney-sweepers cry Every blackning Church appalls And the hapless Soldiers sigh Runs in blood down Palace walls Restrictions on Freedom The repeated reference to charter'd suggests a sense of confinement and control Blake suggests that institutions and authorities have imposed restrictions on the freedom of individuals leading to a society where people are not truly free

Corruption and Exploitation Blake criticizes the corruption and exploitation within his time's political and economic systems The mind-forg'd manacles refer to the mental and emotional chains that society imposes on individuals Society s Plague The references to the chimney-sweeper's cry and the harlot's curse highlight the suffering of vulnerable groups including children and women The society is indifferent to child labour Infidelity is plaguing the society But most thro' midnight streets I hear How the youthful Harlots curse Blasts the new-born Infants tear And blights with plagues the Marriage hearse Loss of Innocence The mention of the chimney-sweeper and the soldier reflects Blake's concern about the loss of innocence both in the exploitation of child labour and the involvement of young men in wars In Conclusion Blake's London is a critique of the dehumanizing effects of industrialization social injustice and political corruption on the people of London during his time

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