London

• "I wander through each chartered Street"

  • wander = no purpose of walk
  • chartered = privatised: owned and controlled by the rich
• "Marks of weakness, marks of woe"

  • breaks iambic tetrameter = symbolises opportunities to revolt/break free, but londoners are too weak to notice
  • repetiton of marks = emphasises suffering and control
  • marks = a verb? speaker taking notice, too extreme to ignore
• "The mind-forged manacles I Hear"

  • mind-forged= internal loss of hope and creativity (from factory work??)
  • manacles = trapped, no escape
• "Every black'ning church appals"

  • black'ning = dirty from smog or evil of the church (greed)
  • appals = criticises lack of help from the church
• "Youthful Harlot's curse"

  • youthful and curse = loss of innocence
  • harlot's = immorality of under aged prostitution