Criticism And Symbolism In William Blake's London?

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William Blake lived and wrote in the city of London; Blake’s writings often criticize the political and social environment of his time. “London” is one of Blake’s most political powerful criticisms. Most of his writings analyze different sides of a subject, and this dichotomy of opposing sides is apparent in his collection Songs of Innocence and Songs of Experience. The ominous and grim poem, “London,” is a part of Blake’s experience collection. In “London,” William Blake’s use of symbolism and imagery creates a grotesque and disturbing portrait of London and conveys his theme of a corrupt and oppressive society. Blake was a part of the Romantic Era (1800-1850), a time period that was focused on the individual and the glorification of nature. …show more content…

The speaker describes the human misery he witnesses: “And in every face I meet/Marks of weakness, marks of woe.” The source of the miserable behavior is the restriction of human freewill and consciousness (Edmunson 1). These people are victims of the “mind-forg 'd manacles” Blake mentions later in the poem. The phrase symbolizes mental limitations established to enable people from progressing through life. This restriction is thought to be self-inflicted; Blake describes it as a state of selfhood that destroys the idea of community and solidarity (2). Blake continues this horrific picture as he describes the soldiers: “And the hapless Soldiers sigh/Runs in blood down Palace walls.” This gruesome image represents the government’s abuse of soldiers that causes needless fighting and sacrifice (Lambert 1). Blake’s powerful symbolism created the terrifying images to reinforce the development of his …show more content…

The oppression can be divided into two categories the self inflicted, the mind-forg 'd manacles, and the forced, the hapless solider. The mindset of the society was at a certain level of complacency; Blake viewed ‘selfhood’ as a cause to the worsening condition. He is suggesting that in order to defeat the corruption of society people should unite and create a sense of community. In the case of the solider, the oppression is controlled by a higher power. Blake suggests that corruption and oppression has reached the government in

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