The “soldiers sigh” being the oppression and depression, the “blood down palace walls” being the death and deception.
Wordsworth seems to be the opposition to these negative views, shown in his explicit positive imagery: “Never did the sun more beautifully steep”.
This quotation basically means that the sun has never looked as beautiful as it does now, sunshine symbolises a fresh start and purity. Therefore suggesting the city is pure as the rays of the sun are shining on it. Purity is also suggested when Wordsworth writes that the air is “smokeless” even in the industrial city, London. The frequent use of positive imagery throughout the poem creates ideas that Wordsworth has seen London as a cathartic experience and has been enlightened by the city.
Through out the poem it would appear that Wordsworth wants the reader to feel at peace with London and shows his calm and blissful visit to the city; seen in Wordsworth’s use of language: “touching”, “silent” and “asleep”.
All of these words give a harmonious and peaceful atmosphere; this implies that Wordsworth feels at one with the city.
Wordsworth was influenced by many different things whilst writing “Composed”; one of these influences may have been that Wordsworth was on his way to visit his daughter in France, this may have given Wordsworth positive emotions and allowing him to see London as a stepping stone on the way to see his daughter giving him hope. Hope is indicated as Wordsworth writes in the morning, a time for fresh starts and new beginnings, Wordsworth then goes on to say that the morning is “silent” and “bare” suggesting that anything can happen.
All poets have reasons for writing a per civic poem “Composed” is no exception to this; Wordsworth writes the poem to show people that romantic ideas and hope can be found anywhere and that London is the heart of this. Both the language and punctuation in the poem shows hope and freedom. The purpose of the poem can also clearly be defined from the quote “This City now doth like a garment, wear
The beauty of the morning; silent bare,”
This quotation shows both honesty and innocence; by the words “silent bare” – both of these words suggests that the city is not hiding anything and possesses no hidden deception. Innocence is shown as the city “doth like a garment, wear they beauty of the morning;” As the morning is new and innocent and is around the city: reflecting its innocence back upon the city.
The poem “London” by Blake however has a completely different purpose and is written to show that society does not express hope, romantic ideas and is in fact corrupted and full of deception. Blake uses the poem to show how society manipulates nature and faith as shown in the quotation “Every blackening church appals;”
This represents how religion has been manipulated by society and is now evil unlike faith that is true and honourable. The romantic view of organised religion is that it toys with people to make them believe that they believe in God, taking away their freedom and the purity of faith and religion. Blake has always lived in London and craves freedom and an escape from what he perceives a political and oppressed society.
The differences between the purposes can be clearly defined and explained, as it is not solely the views of the poets that make their poems it is also, their positions in life and London; their state of mind; experiences and previous encounters with the city and the time of day.
Wordsworth uses the structure of “Composed” to further replicate freedom in London: as the poem is a sonnet (representing society and London – what most believe as ruled and structured) however uses punctuation to break up the rules and structure to enforce freedom and constant flow of life, suggested by Wordsworth’s use of only one full stop. However significant usage of the semi-colon, colon and comma in varied places rather than just at the end of a line thus creating fluency; relating to the river in the city which is free and powerful.
Wordsworth’s use of enjambments is also an indication to this much like in the lines “Open unto the fields, and to the sky;
All bright and glittering in the smokeless air.”
The enjambments allow the reader to think about the true meaning of the line and language, encouraging them to visualise the scene.
Wordsworth uses positive language when talking about London, he also uses straight forward imagery of London opposed to hidden deceptions (like in Blake’s “London”), and this reflects honesty onto the city. Wordsworth writes of freedom in London this creates hope for the people of London – giving them something to admire and aspire for. This is shown in the quotation “The river glideth at his own sweet will:”
“glideth” indicates peace and harmony as gliding is a constant non aggressive pace also suggesting freedom and nature, much like a bird gliding through the air – creating hope and showing Wordsworth’s admiration for the River.
Although Wordsworth writes about London in a positive way parts of his language suggest that he knows there are parts of London that are not as romantic and peaceful as he sees now. Shown in the quote “And all that mighty heart is lying still!” this last line indicates that Wordsworth believes the city can be aggressive by referring to it as “mighty heart” (mighty heart also suggests a busyness as the heart is centre of everything) however sees the city at peace so writes that the city is “lying still”.
Blake also uses the river as a symbol of freedom, however Blake suggests that the river’s freedom is corrupted and restricted – still the river maintains a glimmer of hope being the cities only freedom (according to Blake’s “London”). We can see Blake’s views on the river in the line “chartered Thames does flow”
First it can be suggested that Blake respects the river as he refers to it by it’s name “Thames” instead of just calling it “river” (like in “Composed”) this suggests that Blake still sees hope in the river and partly wants to be like the river.
However restrictions can also be seen in the word “chartered” suggesting that someone set Thames out that way and that it can not do anything but follow the set out path. There is not only restriction but also freedom within this quote as the river “flows” this shows freedom and hope.
Generally Blake’s language is very morbid and negative, which suggests constrainment leading to the Blake’s view on politics. Blake is very critical of London is the poem the complete opposite to “Composed” however just like “Composed”, “London” is made personal as Blake writes in first person and refers to some of his senses: sight and sound. “And mark in every face I meet”
And “through the midnight streets I hear”
both of these quotations show Blake using his senses, showing that Blake takes in everything that is happening around him.
Industrialisation versus romanticism is a key theme throughout the poem; Blake is very traditional and romantic and does not fit into London because of this. Through his poem Blake suggests that the industrialisation that has consumed the city only creates depression, oppression and distinctively destroys happiness and honesty. This is made apparent by the “chimney sweepers cry” symbolising the depression of the people of London by the “cry”; however showing that they are trying to clean up the state of society as they are cleaning the dark, dismal and black ashes in the city.
Blake does not just blame the city itself Blake also blames the people inside the city – people who influence industrialisation. During the fourth stanza Blake suggests that the actions that people are making now will create problems for the next generation. “Youthful harlot’s curse” symbolises the sins of the youth creating a “curse”: a word this is often used in association with witches. These sins cause “the newborn infants tear” which further exemplifies future problems the next generation will have to deal with and fix due to mistakes made by the youth of the time.
The curse in stanza four is also shown by the “plagues” and the “marriage hearse” which indicates death. In the case of the “marriage hearse” this creates a link between eternity and death destroying aspects of hope and proving the impurity of the city.
Blake uses imagery, alliteration and language choice to illustrate his portrayal of London; using these skills he opens the open up to his reader inviting them to have their own interpretations.
The differences are very apparent between the poems and there are clear divides of attitude; the state of mind of the poets; and how society affects them. Romanticism and industrialisation are key elements in both poems however are showed in immensely different ways. Blake remains negative due to the changes that have taken away romanticism; Wordsworth however keeps positive indicating clear elements of hope.
