Lines 9 - 10

• “How the chimney-sweeper’s cry

  Every black’ning church appalls,
• Translation

  • Chimney sweeps were the poorest of society
  • They were usually children, employed to climb up chimneys to sweep out the soot
  • This could be a dangerous job, as it was not only bad for their health, but they could also suffocate and die
  • The soot from the chimneys would blacken the walls of the church, which was horrified by them (“appalls”)
  • The “black’ning church” also references the pollution in London at the time, due to the Industrial Revolution 
  • But it could also mean a tarnished or corrupted reputation
• Blake’s intention

  • Here, Blake is digging deeper into the effects of the “mind-forg’d manacles” on humanity
  • The children who worked as chimney sweepers were often orphans, whom the church was meant to be responsible for
  • However, the church is “appalled” by them and does not look after them as it should
• Blake’s intention

  • During Blake’s time, a lot of money went into the church while children were dying from poverty
  • This emphasises what Blake considers to be the church’s hypocrisy
  • Blake is criticising the church and its “ blackened ” or tarnished reputation
  • He is reflecting on how the wealthy or elite take advantage of the poor