Compare and Contrast "London" by William Blake and "IslandMan" by Grace Nichols. Consider How Each Poem Conveys Alternative Attitudes To Life And Society.

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Owain Millard

English Coursework

Compare and Contrast “London” by William Blake and “Island Man” by Grace Nichols.  Consider How Each Poem Conveys Alternative Attitudes To Life And Society.

Introduction

        The poem “London” written by William Blake (1757 – 1827) is a clever poem.  Although we can appreciate it, and understand William Blake’s ideas, it was not understood or valued when it was written all those years ago.  In contrast the poem “Island Man” written by Grace Nichols is a contemporary poem.  The single idea that brings these two poems together is that they are both about the city of London.  “Island Man” is in language that we understand today, Blake’s poem uses the English language of the 18th century.

Brief Historical Background

William Blake was born in a district of London called Westminister on the 28th November 1757.  His obvious artistic talent lead his draper father to enter him into Par’s Drawing School in the strand.  This lead on to him later being apprenticed to James Basire, an engraver who worked for the Royal Society of Antiquaries.  He married Catherine Boucher in the August of 1972 when he became a freelance engraver.  Blake was an accomplished artist in many areas, not only did he write novels and poems, he was also interested politics and religion but he could paint and engrave to a very high standard.  Blake was introduced by Joseph Johnson to other radical thinkers of the day including Mary Wollstonecraft, William Godwin, Joseph Priestley and Thomas Paine.  In his books such as The French Revolution 1791, and America: A Prophecy 1793.  He developed his attitude of revolt against authority, combining political belief and visionary ecstasy.  The political situation of the time was such that some of his work was printed anomalously because he feared government persecution.  In 1800 Blake moved to Felpham where he began work on his epic poem, “Milton” and “Jerusalem”.  In these poems Blake reveals his social criticism combined with prophecy and biblical legend.  In 1803 Blake was charged with high treason on the testimony of a drunken soldier named John Scofield fortunately he was acquitted and moved back to London.  Blake died in obscurity in 1827 and was buried in an unmarked grave at Bunhill Fields.

        The poem “London” is obviously drawn from Blake’s own experiences of the London in which he lived.  He saw London for the hell hole that it was through the eyes of a man that seemed to feel all the poverty and degradation of everyday life that ordinary people understood.  His religious beliefs embraced Unitarianism a very simplistic form of Christian worship which was in direct confrontation to the Church of England and all its values.  This sensitive artistic man saw all the horrific abuses in society, and this poem was his way of making people confront the problems.  Even though he did not have a solution to the problems, he wanted people to face up to the problems and try to work together to make their society a better place.

Main Criticism of “London”

Title

Blake chose the simple title “London” to engage his reader’s interest about their capital city.  London was the heart of the country, the city of government.  It was a symbol of power and majesty.  As the reader would examine the poem however they would realise how ambiguous the title really was.  Blake was preparing the reader for a powerful poem, but the power of the poem was in showing the reader how sordid their beloved city really was.  

        

Type of Poem

        This poem is warning the whole of London’s population just how hideous the real face of the city was.  Blake was behaving like a prophet advising that people should fundamentally change their way of life.  “Runs in blood down Palace walls” is a caution to people in authority that if they continued on their course of closing their eyes to the poor and the conditions in which they lived, what had happened in France namely the Revolution and the slaughter of the Monarchy making France a republic would happen in Britain.  The theme of constraint and social control runs through the whole of the poem.  People could not choose how they lived their lives.  

Subject of Poem & Its Treatment

        The subject of Blake’s work includes the exploitation of people and their eventual corruption in every conceivable part of society. “How the youthful Harlot’s curse”.  Blake explains here that these young people had no choice but to resort to prostitution.  Society corrupted them and they then in turn became sinful and corrupted.

Voice

        The poem is written through the eyes of one person, but this person wants you to experience all the oppression and social injustice that is all around.  This person has strong beliefs and is prepared to stand up and speak out for those who are less fortunate than himself.  “I wander thro’” begins the poem and so sets the reader on their own personal journey through the disgraceful city of London.  

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Mood & Tone

        A desperate and hopeless mood runs through the whole of this poem, it is negative and offers no solution to the terrible torment that the people suffer.  “And mark in every face I meet Marks of weakness marks of woe.”  Blake makes no secret of the fact that he sees misery, illness and oppression in every individual that he meets.

Form & Structure

        The structure of this poem consists of four stanzas each of which contains four lines, this is known as a quatrain.  Blake chose this arrangement to reflect the idea of ...

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