"Marks of weakness, marks of woe." Line 4
In Blake's poem "London", his use of syntax reveals much about the direction the poem is heading. Most of the words used have a negative connotation, suggesting a theme of sadness and misery. This implies that London, usually pictured as a center of bustling activity, is under the reign of a bloodthirsty and unjust tyrant. Blake hints at this through his mention of "chartered" streets and rivers. Additionally, he mentions how "Soldier's sigh Runs in blood down Palace walls". Moreover, Blake hints at a complete corruption of authority. the "black'ning Church", suggesting that all authority in London, even holy authority, is corrupted and unjust.
No comments:
Post a Comment