Blake shows that he thinks that all of London is controlled by the crown. He shows this in the lines: “I wander thro each chartered street, near where the chartered Thames does flow”. He thinks that its not just the streets that are controlled by the crown but the Thames is too. The Thames represents freedom because of its free flowing water, but it is not free because the waterways are owned by the crown.
Blake shows that he thinks the people of London have been indoctrinated to be sad and woeful in the lines: “in every cry of every man, in every infants cry of fear… the mind forged manacles I hear”. This shows that people can never be free because their minds have been put in manacles (handcuffs) to prevent them ever being free.
In Wordsworths “composed upon Westminster Bridge”, he shows that he thinks the morning is beautiful but he thinks that its beauty is lifted when the morning is gone. He shows this in the lines: “this city now doth like a garment wear, the beauty of the morning, silent, bare”.
He shows that, unlike Blake, he thinks the Thames and London is free. He shows this in the lines: “the river glideth at its own sweet will”. This emphasizes the image of a beautiful and free London. This links to Blake’s poem where he says London is not free and neither is the Thames.
Wordsworth shows that he thinks London is the heart of the country. He shows this in the line: “and all that mighty heart is lying still!” This shows that he thinks that London is a all powerful city and that during the day it is strongly beating but in the morning it is lying still and is asleep as he shows in the line “dear god, the very houses seem asleep!”
These two poems have things that are similar and things that are different. For example they both refer to the Thames but in a different context. Blake describes it as being controlled by the crown whereas Wordsworth describes it as a free flowing river and that it represents freedom.
The main difference is the ways that they portray London. Blake shows it as a miserable, woeful place, whereas Wordsworth shows it as a beautiful, serene, peaceful place.
The two poets were writing at around the same times and they both had strong political views. These views strongly influenced their work but in very different ways because Blake was very opposed to the French revolution whereas Wordsworth was a strong supporter of the revolution.
Luke Simpson
