In the poem "London" by William Blake, the ABAB + quatrains structure represents complete control and oppression. The poem was written in the present tense, which adds immediacy to the feelings conveyed. Despite being difficult, life is enticing for the speaker. The reference to chartered streets and chartered Thames highlights the oppression and restrictions imposed on the people of London.
William Blake uses literary devices such as caesura, onomatopoeia, and acrostic to emphasize the misery and internal suffering of the people. The repetition of "In every" in lines 5 and 6 reinforces how the speaker hears the mind-forged manacles and the cries of the chimney-sweeper, highlighting the chains that bound the minds of the people.
The poem reflects Blake's thoughts and views on exploitation, corruption, and the restrictions imposed on workers during the Industrial Revolution. The juxtaposition of new beginnings and joy with the end of life and the corruption and exploitation seen by the speaker showcases the harsh reality of the time.
The poem reflects Blake's view of London as a dirty and corrupt city, owned and controlled by the wealthy. The reference to the "midnight streets" and the curse of the youthful harlot emphasizes the overwhelming corruption and oppression that strips away the innocence of the people, especially the young and vulnerable.
The poem explores themes of oppression, corruption, imprisonment, and the cycle of suffering caused by the abuses of power and capitalism. The use of oxymoron illustrates how any promise of new life is destroyed in London, emphasizing the hopelessness experienced by the people who are branded by the suffering they have endured.
This analysis presents a line-by-line exploration of the poem "London" by William Blake, highlighting the literary devices used, the context in which the poem was written, and the themes of power and conflict that are prevalent in the poem. The structure and language of the poem emphasize the oppressive and bleak reality of urban life for the people of London during Blake's time.
