The corruption of society is a significant element of the theme of the poem which is effectively depicted through particular words and their connotations. The first, essential choice of words is present in the title “The Chimney Sweeper.” In essence, a “chimney sweeper” is associated with an individual that cleans the dirt out of the chimneys of others. Within the context of this poem, the “chimney sweeper” represents the children that are forced by society to sacrifice their innocence for the sake of society. They are, therefore, forced with an unfair responsibility brought upon the faults of others. This corruption of society is further exemplified when Blake writes, “You know that the soot cannot spoil your white hair.” In this example, the “white hair” is associated with experience and thus, age. In relation, the children are also associated with experience. The result is a portrayal of a child wise beyond their years due to the difficult life of labour that they have endured. An essential line which further depicts the theme of corruption reads, “And my father sold me while yet my tongue/Could scarcely cry “ ‘weep! ‘weep! ‘weep! ‘weep!” In this example, Blake skillfully employs the word “ ‘weep!” to establish a variety of effects. Firstly, the word “ ‘weep!” creates a tone of sorrow and gloom. In consequence, the reader is influenced to feel pity for this child and thus, the poem has a much more resonating effect on the reader. In addition, the word “’weep!” is also employed in order to portray the child’s innocence based on the fact that the child is still too innocent to correctly pronounce the true intent of his words, “sweep!” The idea that a father would sell his own innocent child to a life of labour is used intently by Blake in order to further establish the theme of the corruption existent within society.
The use of diction is continually employed by Blake in order to convey the innocence of the children which is evident when Blake describes little Tom Dacre as being “curl’d like a lamb’s back.” Through the connotation of the word “lamb”, the character of Tom Dacre can be associated with a young, innocent, sweet child. Blake, once again, intently creates this portrayal in order to influence the reader to feel sympathy for the character.
Thus, through the use of particular diction and their uses, William Blake is able to effectively establish the theme of the corruption of society and how it leads to the destruction of the innocence of children. The contrasting aspects of innocence and corruption effectively lend a hand in this depiction. While the corruption of society causes the reader to question its moral principles and the truth of society’s actions, the innocence of the children is employed to invoke emotion within the reader in order so the poem will create a much more stronger impact.
