William Blake London From Within Essay - 2575 Words

5. William Blake: London From Within If we want to discover the particularity of eighteenth century London’s appearance or the details of its growth, there are both scholarly and temporary guides to consult. Through the historical background exposed in the previous chapters, in fact, we came across only to the objective point of view of the city, but if we want to discover the feel of London life, its people, its sounds and smells there is a more direct source: literature. Through poems we can understand the way the authors, like many other people, lived this specific experience. One of the first writers that comes in our mind when we think about 18th century London and its society is William Blake, with his famous work London,†¦show more content†¦In every cry of every Man, In every Infant’s cry of fear, In every voice, in every ban, The mind-forg’d manacles I hear. How the Chimney-sweeper’s cry Every blackning Church appalls And the hapless Soldier’s sigh Runs in blood down Palace walls But most thro’ midnight streets I hear How the youthful Harlot’s curse Blasts the new-born Infant’s tear And blights with plagues the Marriage hearse. London (1794) is one of the most instantly available and comprehensible of the Songs of Experience. The poem, in fact, does not require an interpreter since the images are clear and no knowledge of Blakes personal vision is necessary to understand it. Every reader can see London as Blake’s own city, as an image of the English state and its society and as an image of human condition. A close reading may confirm what a reader had already experienced. Blake, in fact, uses his poetry as a means of social criticism. In this poem, that is practically his everyday experience of life in London, gives him a clear insight into the misery and injustices suffered by London residents. â€Å"Blake’s London is the legitimate inheritor of the Augustan tradition†, â€Å"the vision of the walker in the city who records and organizes London†2. This London is, however, a city ofShow MoreRelatedComparison of London by William Blake and Lines Composed upon Westminster Bridge b y William Wordsworth1105 Words   |  5 PagesComparison of London by William Blake and Lines Composed upon Westminster Bridge by William Wordsworth Earth has nothing to show more fair, taken from William Wordsworths Lines composed upon Westminster Bridge, could not be more of a contrast to the way William Blake describes what he sees in his poem London. William Wordsworth and William Blake both wrote their poems within a very similar time, yet they are completely different in all aspects. Lines composed uponRead MoreLondon and England in 1819 as Expressions of Rebellion1484 Words   |  6 Pageshabeus corpus, people could be sent to prison without a trial. This combination made it a very dangerous time to be speaking out against the government. The threat of imprisonment or death did not stop William Blake or Percy Shelley. Both of these writers rebelled against their government: in 1803, Blake found himself facing charges of â€Å"seditious threats against the crown. With England at war with France, this was a capital offense for which the penalty could have been death.† (171). He also had â€Å"beenRead MoreWilliam Blake s London : The Appalling Conditions Of London And Its People1224 Words   |  5 PagesIn his poem, â€Å"London,† British poet William Blake describes the appalling conditions of London and its people. Innocence has also been a major theme that is throughout many of Blake’s poem, including â€Å"London.† Wi lliam Blake uses metaphors and imagery to show the themes of disappointment and ruined innocence throughout his poem â€Å"London.† In the first stanza of â€Å"London,† Blake describes himself walking through specific streets of London, yet he is only describing the terrible and melancholy thingsRead MoreThe Sick Rose vs. London: a Poetic Comparison1225 Words   |  5 PagesThe Sick Rose vs. London: A poetic Comparison William Blake was a renowned poet whose works continue to be recognized long after his death. Blake was more than a poet he was also a painter and printmaker. Often his engraving art would act as the accompanying image to his poetry. Throughout his lifetime the British poet wrote several poems. The vastRead MoreSociological Criticism of William Blake’s Poetry Essay1506 Words   |  7 PagesSociological criticism analyzes the political, economic, and cultural aspects of literature. To examine literature from the perspective of Marxist social theory is a quintessential form of sociological criticism, as Marxism primarily deals with political and economic ideas of communism and social inequality. William Blake, a Romantic poet, frequently wrote on the topic of class oppression and his opposition to the exploitation of the proletariat by the capitalists. Blake’s ideology and preferenceRead More Comparing London by William Blake and Westminster Bridge by William Wordswo rth811 Words   |  4 PagesComparing London by William Blake and Westminster Bridge by William Wordsworth William Blake was born in London in 1757. He was taught by his mother at home, and became an apprentice to an engraver at fourteen. In addition to poetry Blake spent much of his time painting. Blake lived on the edge of poverty and died in neglect. His poetry receiving little acclaim while he was alive. ‘London’ was written by Blake in 1789. Taken from Blake’s ‘Songs of Experience’, theRead MoreSolemn Soot and Social Despair In the Transformative World of William Blakes The Chimney Sweeper and London817 Words   |  3 PagesSolemn Soot and Social Despair In the Transformative World of William Blake England was changing. The rolling green shires and inspiring scenery that was fixed in the earliest memories of the Romantic poets was quickly vanishing. There was a trade off happening. Rivets for rocks, chimney stacks for trees, locomotives for carriages and steal tracks for cobblestone. Piece by piece England’s quaint agricultural backdrop was being replaced by a stern industrial one. Progress! Some shouted. The greaterRead MoreThere s A Certain Slant Of Light And William Blake s London1338 Words   |  6 PagesDickinson’s â€Å"There’s a certain slant of light† and William Blake’s â€Å"London† are two poems that contain the same theme about despair, yet express that theme very differently. Both poems contain the theme about how despair causes people to be trapped in a constant cycle of pain and loss, and that there is no way to break this cycle. The way that the author expresses this theme is very different. Dickinson’s poem pre sents despair that seems to come from heaven, and with this despair her life has no meaningRead MoreIn Many Ways, Poetry Has The Ability To Shape The Minds1226 Words   |  5 Pageswas William Blake. His poetry has inspired much change in both the past and the present. An analysis of â€Å"The Chimney Sweeper,† one of Blake’s most popular works, can help many to understand the significance of his work in a time period when social riot was visible in the public’s eyes. By exploring the writing style, structure and imagery in this poem, as well as identifying the importance of symbolism, a conclusion can be made concerning the purpose of this poem. Learning more about William BlakeRead MoreAnalysis Of William Blake s London1186 Words   |  5 Pagespoem essentially the only account of the event that is happening. William Blake’s â€Å"London† from his collection of poems Songs of Experience uses poetry of witness to castigate London as a place of happiness by exposing the oppression of the common people by a dominating government and elite class. Blake notices the inequalities of London and he describes the people he sees as sad, suffering, and stagnated by their environment. Blake uses strong imagery, repetition, and metaphor to present the archetype