Blakes loathing for the industrial revolutions and its consequences is clearly demonstrated in London.

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the industrial revolution are expressed through metaphors and comparisons. Despite the dissimulations, the reader can clearly understand Blake’s concerns. The industrial revolution contrasts all his beliefs as he admires the people, the nature and the freedom found in the countryside. 

London

‘’I wander thro' each charter'd street,

Near where the charter'd Thames does flow. 

And mark in every face I meet

Marks of weakness, marks of woe.

In every cry of every Man,

In every Infants cry of fear,

In every voice: in every ban,

The mind-forg'd manacles I hear 

How the Chimney-sweepers cry

Every blackning Church appalls, 

And the hapless Soldiers sigh

Runs in blood down Palace walls 

But most thro' midnight streets I hear

How the youthful Harlots curse

Blasts the new-born Infants tear 

And blights with plagues the Marriage hearse’’

Blake uses a very negative semantic field to describe London after and during the industrialization. The ‘chartered streets’ gives the reader the feeling that nothing is shared anymore and that people’s main goal is to acquire possessions. He clearly states that people are suffering from this and from what their city has become. People are crying of fear, of suffering and possibly of anger. Even the chimney sweepers, who are aware of all the stories and all the ‘gossip’ are crying, which confirms that the entire population of London is unhappy and worried. The rules and regulations set out refrain the people from any happiness or joy that can be experienced in the countryside. Iron and forgery can be associated with the industrial revolution as it took an important place. The use of the words ‘mind-forged manacles’ demonstrates the harsh restrictions imposed the society and how it weighs them down. Blake believes that the industrial revolution has changed people’s characters and beliefs. Marriages are ruined because the men commit adultery with harlots, who have become more ‘popular’ during this industrialization. All these negative aspects have arisen with the industrial revolution and Blake feels sorrow for the inhabitants of London who have no choice but to obey to the rules and endure the cursed life, which industrialization has brought about.

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Blake’s loathing for the industrial revolutions and it’s consequences is clearly demonstrated in ‘London’.  He manages to convey his idea to the readers in a very convincing manner, especially for those who haven’t seen or experienced it first hand.  

A divine image

Cruelty has a human heart,

And Jealousy a human face;

Terror the human form divine,

And Secresy the human dress.

The human dress is forged iron,

The human form a fiery forge,

The human face a furnace sealed,

The human heart its hungry gorge.

Blake mentions his negative feelings of the industrial ...

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