Compare and control the environment portrayed in the poems London and Sonnet

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Compare and control the environment portrayed in the poems 'London' and 'Sonnet'

'Man is born free and everywhere he is in chains'. Rousseau. This quote can relate to both of the poems 'London' by William Blake and 'Sonnet' by John Clare. The poet William Blake greatly admired the French philosopher, Rousseau, and he has made it particularly evident in his poem 'London'. However the ideas portrayed in John Clare's 'Sonnet' contradict Rousseau's statement. Both of these poems describe environments and landscapes, creating contrasting images through the poets' use of descriptive language which is both vivid and imaginative.

In the poem 'London', Blake describes a journey around the city of London and offers the readers a view of the terrible conditions that the inhabitants of the city have to face. Some of the topics explored in the poem are: restrictive laws of property, child labour and prostitution.

The poem begins by criticizing the laws which relate to ownership. By saying the 'charter'd Thames' Blake is referring to the fact that every aspect of life is owned in London, even the river which is often a symbol of freedom, and an emblem of the power of nature in