London is a city that has inspired numerous artists throughout history. One such artist was the English poet, William Blake.
In his poem ‘London’, Blake describes the city in a way that is both haunting and powerful. Let’s take a closer look at how Blake describes London and what he intends to convey through his words.
William Blake’s ‘London’
‘London’ is a poem that was published in 1794 as part of William Blake’s collection of poems called ‘Songs of Experience’. The poem consists of four quatrains or stanzas, each with four lines.
The lines are written in iambic tetrameter, which means that there are four stressed syllables in each line.
The First Stanza
In the first stanza, Blake sets the stage for his description of London. He writes:
“I wander thro’ each charter’d street,
Near where the charter’d Thames does flow,
And mark in every face I meet
Marks of weakness, marks of woe.”
Here, we see Blake walking through the streets of London, observing the people he encounters. He describes the streets as “charter’d”, which means that they are controlled by a governing body or authority.
He also mentions the Thames river, which flows through London and is an important part of its geography.
The last two lines of this stanza are particularly poignant. Blake notes that he sees “marks of weakness” and “marks of woe” on the faces of the people he encounters.
This suggests that there is something fundamentally wrong with London society and its treatment of its citizens.
The Second Stanza
In the second stanza, Blake delves deeper into the problems that he sees in London. He writes:
“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.”
Here, Blake suggests that there is a pervasive sense of oppression in London. He hears the cries of men and infants alike, and notes that there is a sense of fear and restriction in their voices.
The final line of this stanza – “The mind-forg’d manacles I hear” – is particularly powerful. It suggests that the people of London are trapped by their own thoughts and beliefs, which are preventing them from living fulfilling lives.
The Third Stanza
In the third stanza, Blake describes some specific examples of the suffering he sees in London. He writes:
“How the Chimney-sweeper’s cry
Every black’ning Church appalls;
And the hapless Soldier’s sigh
Runs in blood down Palace walls.”
Here, Blake mentions two groups of people who are suffering in London – chimney sweepers and soldiers. He notes that even the sight of a church is enough to upset a chimney sweeper, suggesting that these people are deeply oppressed and unhappy.
The mention of soldiers suggests that even those who are supposed to be defending London are not immune to its problems.
The Fourth Stanza
In the final stanza, Blake concludes his description of London with a powerful image. He writes:
“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.”
Here, Blake describes the plight of young prostitutes in London. He notes that their curses have a powerful effect on the world around them, causing even new-born infants to cry.
He also mentions the “Marriage hearse”, which is a reference to a carriage that would be used to take a dead body to its final resting place. This suggests that marriage itself is dying in London, perhaps due to the oppressive conditions under which people are living.
Conclusion
William Blake’s ‘London’ is a powerful and haunting poem that describes the problems of life in 18th-century London. Through his use of vivid imagery and powerful language, Blake conveys a sense of oppression and suffering that permeates every aspect of life in the city.
By highlighting these problems, Blake invites his readers to consider what can be done to make London – and society as a whole – a better place for all.