William Blake “London”

Course and Section Professor’s Name June 1, 2024 Title Introduction "Songs of Experience," by William Blake, contains one of the most graphic poems, "London." In this work, Blake makes the viewers see facets of life like oppression, social degeneration, and dehumanization due to industrialization. The elements of London's inhabitants' suffering are depicted well in the poem using appropriate and fascinating words. Analyzing the poem, one can find many literary devices that enrich the author's message, such as symbolism, metaphor, personification, apostrophe, and metonymy, used by Blake. Examining these devices and the poem's form and structure, it is possible to understand better how Blake conveys the message of hopelessness and people's lack of liberty in the urban environment. Symbolism Symbolism is one of the most striking features in "London"; this is because Blake could integrate numerous symbols into his poem while still keeping the general meaning understandable. The word 'charter'd' is used twice in the line 'I wander thro' each charter'd street, / Near where the charter'd Thames does flow' and demonstrates the political and economical oppression of the society. This control even stretches infrastructural formations such as the river Thames, which gives the audience an idea of how society oppresses everybody. Likewise, the term 'mind-forg'd manacles' can also be regarded as another brilliant poetic device expressing the confinement of people by society. This means that people in a society are mentally bonded to fit the societal standards of behavior and conduct, showing that one is a slave to society. Metaphor and Personification Other figures of speech evident in the poem are First, second, and third, Metaphor and personification. The poem's readers cannot remain unmoved and will think of the conditions of such psychological confinement as mind-forg'd manacles, a...