An Analysis of William Blakes Poem London Essay

In London, William Blake brings to light a city overrun by poverty and hardship. Blake discards the common, glorifying view of London and replaces it with his idea of truth. London is nothing more but a city strapped by harsh economic times where Royalty and other venues of power have allowed morality and goodness to deteriorate so that suffering and poverty are all that exist. It is with the use of three distinct metaphors; mind-forgd manacles, blackning Church, and Marriage hearse, that Blake conveys the idea of a city that suffers from physical and psychological imprisonment, social oppression, and an unraveling moral society. According to William Richey the phrase mind-forgd manacles has two contributors, the†¦show more content†¦The use of the word blood to describe the state of walls can convey that the city is also filthy with the greed of upper class citizens such as Royalty (Line 12). Also, that the city could be full of the remembrance of the deaths of soldiers who have died for the purposes of carrying out Royalty orders. Therefore, because the surroundings are so confined and unclean, it reflects and reinforces the distress of ordinary citizens (Richey 2) Disease is another factor that contributes to the distress of citizens. And blights with plagues the Marriage hearse (Line 16). The presence of an oxymoronic phrase places an emphasis on the current state of Londons marriage practices. Marriage no longer represents rebirth and purity but is looked upon as costly and unclean. Men and women become careless with their sexual activities and help spread sexually transmitted diseases affecting not only themselves but others and future generations (Richey 1). It is the presence of sexual promiscuity and the spread of sexually transmitted diseases that lead to the death of marriage. The Church creates woe for citizens by acknowledging and advertising that earthly suffering is permissible because heaven grants rewards to faithful followers who do not complain (2). Since the Church bears so much influence and power, citizens feel they have no other choice but to follow the advice given to them. Many are probably so miserable that their only hope ofShow MoreRelatedEssay on Analysis of William Blakes Poem London521 Words   |  3 PagesAnalysis of William Blakes Poem London London by William Blake is a poem characterised by its dark and overbearing tone. It is a glimpse at a period of Englands history (particularly London) during war and poverty, experienced by the narrator as he walks through the streets. Using personification it draws a great human aspect to its representation of thoughts and beliefs of the narrator. The author uses a rhyme scheme that mirrors the pace of walking. 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