london

• the themes of london


  lack of power in humans

  abuse of power - from higher class to lower
• compare to

  abuse of power ozymandias
• reason behind the poem

  Blake wanted revolution in england to overthrow monarchy and what they have been told to do
• quote 1 'chartered'


  drawn up by lawyers when rich buys sections of london and countryside - damaging environment

  protesting how nature is being sold for money

  power exerted on less fortunate

  symbol of control much like in ozymadias statue
• quote 2 - every repetition and mark

  anaphora repetition - highlights many are without power - the ordinary

  metaphor mark for a brand - cow sheep labels - identification of humans

  rich people are owning the citezins of london

  emphasises the sheer agony and torment innnocent people

  
  

  howveer they do not want forget their morals and identity

  alternatively shows a loss of identity - sense of permanency
• quote 3 mind forged manacles

  alliteration draws attention to the metaphor - peoople arent physically held back but their belief of weakness holds them back- people have stopped believing of a revoltution

  attack on the thinking of londoners - giving in and complicit of their rulers
• quote 4 chimney and church

  juxtaposition and alliteration - church condoning child labour highlighting impacts - cries suffering

  attacking the church and monarchy

  Blake saw religion as a tool to supress them so describes it as 'blackening'

  dirty church juxtaposes the idea of a clean modern church - responsible for the evil in society explotation of society

  appalls connotations of death as coffin - church is spreading death over london metaphor
• quote 5 - blood down palace walls and hapless soldiers sigh


  juxtaposes the french army fighting against their king

  blood running down shows our soldiers sacrifice for the king which is a symbolic metaphor and shows blake is critiqing the soldiers actions

  adjective hapless- stupidity or unfortunate as they will be killed when revolution killed -rallying cry for soldiers to change and join the people
• quote 6 - youthful harlots curse


  slang for prostitutes - no more than a child - child explotation as they have to revert to get money like the men to eaarn a living - cursed as have no money

  curse - blakes is cursing men for using the women and the government is ignoring this
• quote 7 marriage hearse


  plagues and curse negative connotations -possible stds - bring back into own marriage which turns it into the hearse

  infant also infected mimics the beliefs of the king being indoctrinated on the younger generation to not challenge and revolt

  juxtaposition and oxymoron

  emphasises the corrupt nature of the government - leaves reader with no hope for imrprovement