Analysis of London by William Blake

Written in four stanzas, London by William Blake uses an ‘A, B, A, B’ rhythmic pattern. More in a lyrical form, the poem is basically about someone where he wanders in London and describes his thoughts and observations. He sees poverty, misery, and despair on people’s face and notices how London is a hideous and corrupted place with injustice in every corner. The poem starts with a sinister and gloomy atmosphere which quickly gives an idea to the reader what the author thinks of London. I noticed the author uses repetition of words such as “every”. I assume it is to emphasise the fact that this suffering is not only affecting a group of people but everybody. At the third stanza, the "chimney-sweeper's cry" symbolizes that people are forced to repair what the society had done wrong. Blake is also blaming the church by describing as "blackening" to represent its corruption. Then, the “hapless soldier's sigh” evokes the idea that the soldiers don’t have a choice but to serve their country and “Runs in blood down palace-walls.” refers to their dreams and lives