In his poem "The Chimney Sweeper", William Blake shows the dispirited urban life of a young chimney sweep as the industrial revolution approaches in order to emphasize the theme of innocence through Marxism and inform people of the harsh working conditions during the era of child labor by promoting political reforms. William Blake was born in London on November 28, 1757 to James and Catherine Blake. From early childhood, Blake spoke of having visions. He learned to read and write at home. Blake expressed a desire to become a painter, so his parents sent him to drawing school. Two years later, Blake began writing poetry. One of Blake's tasks as an apprentice was to design the tombs of Westminster Abbey, exposing him to a variety of Gothic styles from which he would draw inspiration throughout his career. After his seven-year term ended, he studied briefly at the Royal Academy. He married an illiterate woman named Catherine Boucher. Blake taught him to read and write, and also taught him drawing. She later helped him print the illuminated poetry for which he is remembered today. Critics have criticized its physical depiction of spiritual events and supposed visions as part of theological insolence. Blake's love of creativity and imagination updates his conception of a personal cosmology that supports both his lyrical and visionary poetry. Blake's poetry reflected early proclamations of Marxist topics even though Marxism had not even been documented as a theory. In order to present the theme of innocence throughout the poem, the rhyme pattern of this poem is kept in a quatrain form, which allows it to create a mood of innocence in the rhythm of a children's song. Because the poem is in progress...... middle of paper ...... and practical. Upper Saddle River: Pearson Education, 2003. 161-178. Erdman, David V. “Infinite London.” Blake: Prophet against the Empire. Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1969. Reprinted in Twentieth-Century Interpretations of Songs of Innocence and Experience. Ed. Morton D. Paley. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall, Inc., 1969.49-57. “Factories and mines: Report on child labor, 1843”. . November 8, 2005. Nurmi, Martin K. "Fact and Symbol in 'The Chimney Sweeper' of Blake's Songs of Innocence." Blake: A Collection of Critical Essays. Northrop Frye, ed. Englewood Cliffs: Prentice-Hall, 1966. “William Blake.” Discovering the authors. Online edition. Gale, 2003. Student Resource Center. Thomson Gale. .November 22, 2005. Zimmer, Erika. “Child victims of the industrial revolution.”< http://www.wsws.org/articles/2001/feb2001/orph-f20.shtml>.February 20 2001.