Question

Why is the poem london written viewed as social protest?

Answer 1

“London” is a poem in which Blake criticises the contemporary society which has become the symbol of oppression. The so-called liberty of which his countrymen are proud is nothing but “a chartered liberty” the natural and free growth of man is impossible. The evils of the then society have been exemplified by the chimney sweeper’s miserable life, helpless deaths of the soldiers and the exploitation of the harlots. Thus, the child chimney sweeper, the soldier, and the harlot are Blake’s types of the oppressed- characteristic victims of a system based not on brotherhood but on fear.

The poet hears the cries of the chimney-sweepers which appall the helpless church. The sight of the dying soldier whose blood drops down the palace walls is audible to the poet. At midnight the curses of the young harlots are heard in the streets. This unnatural life spoils the holy tie between the wife and husband in their marital life. It is the result of the marriage devoid of lover and so a man seeks a harlot to satisfy his passion. Besides, the children, born out of the loveless marriage and out of adultery pose a great problem to the society.

The people are in chains everywhere. Every face in the city is melancholy because of his misery caused by man, all the so-called industrial progress has brought about misery for most of them. This poem is the criticism of the society and the whole trend of the contemporary society. It is a protest against the exploitation of the poor by the rich.


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Answer 2

‘London’ is from Blake’s collection Songs of Innocence and Experience: Shewing the Two Contrary States of the Human Soul. The section concerning innocence is positive in tone and celebrates love, childhood and nature. The ‘experience’ section is in direct contrast to ‘innocence’ and illustrates many of the negative effects of modern life upon people and nature. It views the modern condition as dangerous, corrupt and industrialised, promoting poverty, childhood labour and prostitution.

In ‘London’ Blake uses snapshots of the city to depict his negative view of society at the time. As with some of his other works, the poem forms a sort of social protest. It reflects Blake’s disillusionment with religion and authority, as he states that the Church has ‘blackening’ walls, and that the soldier’s sigh ‘runs in blood down palace-walls’.

Blake lived in London for most of his life. During this time, the city was becoming an industrial landscape, controlled by landlords and institutions, and Blake’s concern about these changes seems to be suggested by the language he uses when he describes a ‘chartered’ and ‘manacle[d]’ city. It also seems to show great empathy for the plight and misery of the people of the city.