London Quotes and Ideas Flashcards
The alliteration of “Marks” is used to show the desperate lives of the poor in London, and how there is no hope. The alliteration can imply that those marks are now permanent scars (metaphorically) which can be reflected later with “mind-forged manacles”.
“Marks of weakness, marks of woe.”
The constant repetition of “every” suggests the community’s desperation as everyone is connoted with negative actions.
“In every cry of every man, In every infant’s cry of fear, In every voice, in every ban,”
This is used to highlight how the community’s (poor people’s) oppression. Furthermore, the perspective of William Blake is also used here to show his observation(s) of the pain this community is suffering from.
“The mind-forged manacles I hear.”
What is “fear”, “cry”, “ban” a semantic (lexical) field of?
Pain, suffering, oppression. They also have relations to distressing sounds and it is 100% a voluntary action making the reader feel sympathetic.
The church, usually described as a figure or a symbol of hope, is described in a negative way to due to the misconduct of power and in-ability to assist the people in-need.
“Every black’ning church appalls,”
William is appalled at the monarchy for their arrogance and potential hubris for throwing the lives of countless soldiers. Furthermore, William highlights their soldier’s morale towards assisting the monarchy despite their sworn duty to protect the monarchy.
“And the hapless soldier’s sigh, Runs in blood down palace walls.”
The oxymoron contrasts between the innocence of youth and the corruption of prostitution (desperation for money) is seen as a curse for the working class.
“How the youthful harlot’s curse, Blasts the new-born infants tear,”
Despite vows and romance, in the end, everything will die.
“And blights with plagues the marriage hearse.”
