This is an interpretation and analysis of 'London' by William Blake. The summary first offers a breakdown of the top layers of meaning of the poem (what is physically happening), given as an overview and then broken down by stanza.
Next, it delves into the poem's deeper layers of meaning, discu...
Poetry
London by William Blake
Interpretation and Analysis
What is the poem about?
What is physically happening?
(top layer of meaning)
Overview
• The narrator is wandering through the streets of London and commenting on their
observations. They see people in despair and hear fear in their voices, including adults,
and infants, chimney sweeps and soldiers, whilst also commenting on the Church and
Palace. Things are no better during the night, and the speaker comments on the
prostitutes’, how they curse at crying new-borns, and corrupt the concept of marriage,
but also perhaps how new lives are destined to fail if things do not change.
By stanza
1. The narrator wanders through London’s planned, organised streets, near the Thames.
Every person they meets seems to be in a state of difficulty and despair.
2. In everything every person says, and in the cry of every new-born, the narrator hears
the imprisonment under which these people feel trapped.
3. The narrator turns their attention to the chimney sweeps – one of the society’s poorest
trades, often orphaned children small enough to fit down chimneys. The narrator
criticises the Church for allowing this to happen. Next, they consider soldiers, and this
time criticise the Palace (the Government/Monarch) for allowing soldiers to suffer so
while they live in luxury.
4. Here the narrator continues their wandering through the night. They hear young
prostitutes cursing at children, perhaps suggesting how corrupt and poverty-stricken the
city is. They also comment on how prostitutes are corrupting the concept of marriage,
or perhaps how society is forcing this sorry state of affairs.
, What else might the poem be about?
What is metaphorically happening?
What is the purpose/theme/message of the poem?
What ideas might the poet have wanted the reader to consider?
(deeper layers of meaning; more complex interpretations)
Overview
• Perhaps the poem as a whole is serving as a documentation of the terrible state of
London’s streets, intended to bring these terrible truths to light in order to inspire a
revolution.
• More specifically, the poem – not so subtly – chastises the Church and Palace
(essentially pointing the finger of blame at the country’s religious and political leaders).
• The poem is perhaps intended to incite specific questions from its readers:
o Are these living and working conditions acceptable?
o Is the Church doing all it can (and should) to help?
o Are new-borns entering a world they will want to live in?
o What can be done about it?
Contextual information
• Blake knew ordinary people were controlled by landlords, organisations, institutions,
etc, and this made him feel disillusioned. He was a religious man, but still critical of
the Church, as he felt the organisation was not doing enough to help poor children in
need, forced to work in such dangerous conditions.
• In 1789, ordinary French people rebelled against royalty and aristocracy and overthrew
those in power, and a new government was created for the express purpose of
representing the people; perhaps Blake is suggesting a revolution would change the
streets of England’s capital city.
Emotions, moods, and feelings present in the poem
• Sadness/despair
• Unfairness/Injustice
• No hope for the future/despondence
• Restriction
• Desperation
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