Holy Thursday (Songs of Experience) is about a place full of sorrowful cries and poverty. This, in contrast to its counterpart in Songs of Innocence, is focussed on the darkness of the situation. This can be seen where Blake writes “…And their sun does never shine / and the fields are bleak and bare…” This shows us the oppression of the situation of these children’s lives. This entire poem concentrates on the depressive, melancholy side of childhood. This seems to represent what Blake considered to be the reality of childhood. This poem also seems to describe religion as corrupt. This can be seen where Blake writes “…Is this a holy thing to see? / In a rich and fruitful land babes reduced to misery…” This shows us that God’s laws are not being implemented by his followers or his church. The sun seems to represent joy in this poem, and the rain, growth and nourishment. The land and the children in this poem are deprived of these things, both literally and figuratively. The gap between the ideal childhood and the reality of childhood are most pronounced and distinct in these contrasting poems and it is highlighted using metaphorical language and figurative questions, which reveal underlying facts.
The Chimney – Sweeper (Songs of Innocence) is about a child that was sold to the chimney sweepers when he was very young. He witnesses another child – Tom Dacre – having a dream or vision in which there are thousands of dead chimney sweepers; then an angel appears telling him that if he is good he will “…have god as your father and never want joy…” Though this might seem miserable and morbid at first, with the boys “…locked up in coffins of black…” , the effect is later reversed by the apparition of the angel. The angel unlocks the coffin with a “…bright key…” which could be seen as the key to life or the key to the gates of heaven. The children then go and “…wash in the river and shine in the sun…” which creates an image in my head of purity and spiritual cleanliness. It also seems to signify baptism. Whilst my original perception of this poem was one of cruelty and sadness, I can now see Blake’s implicit focus on the innocence and naturalness of childhood. This can be seen where Blake writes “… curled like a lambs back…” The lamb, which is often used to represent childhood, is often used to represent holiness and even Jesus himself, in the Bible. This can also be seen in the last stanza where the sight of the angel gives young Tom Dacre the strength to continue with work and be “…happy and warm…” I also think that Tom Dacre believes that the angel is more than a mere dream due to his naivety and natural innocence.
The Chimney – Sweeper (Songs of Experience) is about a child that is found crying in “…notes of woe…” in the snow. He is asked where his mother and father are and he tells the questioner that they are at church. Childhood is portrayed as miserable and almost perverse in this poem. This can be seen in the second stanza where the boy says “…Because I was happy upon this heath / And smiled among the winters snow / they clothed me in the clothes of death…” This suggests that the child’s innocence was deliberately perverted due to his happiness. He then goes on to say that he was “…taught to sing the notes of woe…” The repetition of these words intensifies and expresses the child’s sadness and depression. The boy’s parents do not realise the internal pain they are causing the child to bear because of his happy exterior. This can be seen where the boy says “…And because I am happy and dance and sing / they think they have caused me no injury…” Blake uses cold irony in this poem. We can see this where the child’s parents go to church. They have gone to church to seek love and warmth and in consequence, deprived their own child of these crucial feelings through neglecting and abandoning him. This also suggests that religion is corrupted and contaminated through society.
Nurse’s song (Songs of Experience) is about a nurse watching her charges playing outside. This reminds her of her own childhood, which appears to make her feel ill. She tells the children that they have to go home as it is getting late and dark. Childhood is portrayed as a complete waste of time in this poem. This can be seen where the nurse says “…Your spring and your day are wasted in play…” This suggests that the nurse does not approve of the children having fun and enjoying themselves, which is essentially what children do during their early years. I think that she disapproves so much because she fears that the children’s innocence will lead them into danger. This is supported by the phrase that Blake writes in the first stanza “…And whisperings are heard on the dale…” this creates a sense of danger and trouble in my mind. I think the nurse senses this danger to her own experience. Blake also suggests that the children’s desire for freedom should be disguised. This can be seen where he write “…And your winter and night in disguise…” This suggests that the children should repress their desire for playing and having fun. The nurses own experiences, which are clearly undesirable, largely influence Blake’s portrayal of childhood in this poem.
Nurse’s Song (Songs of Innocence) is also about a nurse watching her charges play outside. However, this nurse approves of the children’s enjoyment and is contented by the fact that they are happy. This can be seen where Blake writes “…My heart is a rest within my breast…” This shows us that the nurse is pleased that the children are enjoying their childhood. Childhood is portrayed as a time of joy and cheerfulness in this poem. This is supported by Blake’s references to laughter. For example, he writes “…laughing is heard on the hill…” and “…The little ones leaped and shouted and laughed…” The structure and the rhythm of this poem make it sound like a nursery rhyme. The rhythm is vivacious and energetic, and this gives us a sense of happiness. This highlights the contrast between the points of view in Songs of Innocence and Songs of Experience. Nurse’s Song (Songs of Experience) seems to have a very rigid structure and the rhythm sounds bitter.
Songs of Innocence and Experience portrays two completely contrasting perspectives of childhood. Blake’s View of childhood in Songs of Innocence is one of joy and happiness whereas his view of childhood in Songs of Experience is one of ignorance, and brutality. I think this change in view may have come from what Blake thought childhood was like, and what it actually was like. I think that these poems were Blake’s way of giving those deprived children a voice and a way of expressing how unacceptable the conditions of childhood were.
