Table of contentsIntroductionExamples of Marxist poetry in "London"ConclusionIntroductionHow useful is Marxist criticism in opening up potential meanings in "London"? London” by William Blake? Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get an Original Essay By applying Marxist criticism to the poem “London” by William Blake, the reader can gain insight into the human condition and corruption institutions of society. and the subjugation of the lower class. In attempting to understand these ideas, Blake chooses to examine “class politics,” through which he observes the “socio-economic circumstances” of individuals, societies, and ideologies. Study of the critical anthology allows us to conclude that authors are "constantly shaped by their social contexts" and, in this respect, Blake is no different, as the impact of the French Revolution on the poem demonstrates. In “London,” he examines how the government attempts to exert its influence to put an end to a similar uprising, as evidenced by its control of “charter streets.” Additionally, as shown in a poem written in the children's book "Songs of Innocence", Blake chooses to examine the world through the eyes of a child. Therefore, his vision is freed from societal expectations, allowing him to reveal the harsh reality of humanity. Additionally, the poem alludes to the idea that his empathy and childlike naivety allow him to challenge the apparatus of power without prejudice. Thus, he is able to explore the difficulties of the lower class by presenting his own image of London. Examples of Marxist Poetry in 'London' When exploring the social denotations within 'London', the concept of limitation is brought to the forefront in the government's control over the city. . By describing the streets and river as being “chartered,” an association with legal rights and privileges, Blake shows how London is brought under the “legalized” control of the aristocracy. Additionally, Blake juxtaposes the notion of freedom and limitation within London through his description of the river, stating that "the Thames flows" through the city, offering a suggestion of freedom, while submitting to a "charter" . This indicates that even the river is subject to restrictions imposed by the upper class. Therefore, Blake uses the idea of ​​government control over nature as a way to emphasize the powerlessness of the lower class. Blake also explores the situation of ordinary Londoners in his poem. Through the use of anaphora, Blake's repetition draws our attention to the imagery of "spirit-forged manacles that I hear", implying that they are created in the poet's mind, and not simply as a physical constraint imposed on Londoners. The handcuffs are not real, but are a metaphor to highlight the repression of the lower classes, inviting the listener to observe how society has imposed its ideas and prejudices on the poor. Like the “Chartered Thames,” the “handcuffs” show us that the people have submitted to government control. This is reinforced by Bertens who states that “it is not the consciousness of men which determines their existence but their social existence which determines their consciousness”. Blake suggests that the people of London cannot have autonomy, but rather follow the intellectual and political ideas imposed on them by the ruling class. This control is evidenced by the poem's rigid structure and alternating rhyme scheme. Thus, the mind is no longer presented as a source of freedom; she israther used by society as a means of controlling and asserting class boundaries. Conversely, Blake's presentation of "mind-wrought manacles" may suggest that people are capable of breaking free of this control. By showing how tyranny imposes its force by strengthening its control over the minds of the lower classes, Blake presents the notion of rebellion as a means of freeing minds from societal expectations. However, Bertens denies this idea by writing that "minds are not free at all, they only think that they are." To help us explore the connotations of the human condition, Blake uses a choice of words that hold great significance in how they engage. the listener. Through his use of double meaning and metaphors, the speaker is able to highlight the plight of the poor. The “Marks of Weakness, Marks of Misfortune” “on every face I meet” are presented as having both metaphorical and literal importance. We know that to score is either to make a scratch or to observe closely. Therefore, Blake may be observing the literal marks of age on each face, emphasizing the physical hardships they endure. Alternatively, it could be suggested that these marks are not physical and that by observing people he imprints them on his mind. Thus, Blake describes both the physical difficulties and the mental pressure that society places on the poor, a point reinforced by Bertens who states that "the way we think and the way we experience the world around us are entirely or largely conditioned by the way in which the economy is organized. Therefore, we can understand that the lower class is unable to free themselves from the powers that suppress them. Analysis of the poem suggests that Blake uses metaphor as a tool to attack corruption within London's institutions, primarily the Church and royalty. By emphasizing the use of child labor in the Church, a source of discord within society, Blake manages to question the institution and its commitment to the people. In the third stanza, the speaker notes "how chimney sweeps weep, every blackening Church dismays." In a direct reference to the Church's use of orphans to sweep chimneys, Blake raises the idea that because of this practice, the Church has become corrupt. The blackening of the Church is both a metaphorical and literal description, in which the "blackening" brings awareness to its loss of innocence and purity. This suggests that the Church is dying “morally” because of its practice of child labor. In a literal sense, the soot from the chimneys blackens the skin of the orphans, thus describing the physical blackening of the Church. Blake also uses the poem to explore the effect of corrupt institutions on the people of London. Bertens tells us that “capitalism…thrives through the exploitation of its workers.” In the third stanza, the speaker shows us that the Palace is no different because of the exploitation of the soldiers. By applying Marxist criticism to the metaphor “And the unfortunate soldiers sigh and flow in blood on the palace walls,” alternative meanings are revealed in the poem. One interpretation of this metaphor sees the Palace as having "blood on its hands" due to its efforts to maintain control. Like the orphaned chimney sweeps, the soldier is the slave of an institution which uses him to do its dirty work. Alternatively, the soldier's sighs can be seen as an expression of his dissatisfaction with his lack of power and authority to do anything to remedy his situation...