London Flashcards
“Charter’d street… charter’d Thames”
Nature is mapped.
It is controlled.
Oppressed.
Criticises human arrogance to think that they can control nature
Could refer to the mapping of societies. Literally as a form of navigation. Metaphorical as class division and oppression.
“Blackning Church appals”
Juxtaposition as churches typically connote whiteness and purity
Could Literally due to the industrial revolution
Could be metaphorically due to the corruption of religion and the churches
“Appals” has connotations of death and funerals.
Death of religion?
Religion is killing itself through its own oppression
Repetition of “every”
The oppression envelopes everyone
It is inescapable
Those who introduced the power, suffer the most as a consequence
“Every infants cry of tear”
Even the most innocent beings as punished.
Born into the poverty cycle
Inescapable
William Blake
Romantic poet
Belief in freedom
Explored here through the religious oppression