What Does Blake satirize in “Holy Thursday” in Songs of Experience?

Answer

What does Blake satirize in “Holy Thursday” in Songs of Experience?

“Holy Thursday” is one of the poems in William Blake’s (1757-1827) collection titled “Songs of Experience,” published in 1794. In this poem, Blake satirizes the traditional religious observance of Holy Thursday, which commemorates (celebrates) the Last Supper of Jesus Christ. Blake’s satire in “Holy Thursday” targets the social and economic disparities (differences) that exist in society, particularly those affecting children.

The Poverty of Orphan Children: Blake focuses on the misery and hunger of the children to criticize society’s hypocrisy. The emphasis on the children being “reduced to misery” and “fed with cold and usurous hand” highlights Blake’s concern for the plight of the poor. He reveals the exploitation the children face in the name of religious and societal norms.

Is this a holy thing to see

In a rich and fruitful land,

Babes reduced to misery

Fed with cold and usurous hand?

Religious Hypocrisy: The poem describes the procession of poor and orphaned children who are taken to St. Paul’s Cathedral in London for the Holy Thursday service. The poet criticizes the hypocrisy of a society that claims to value religious and moral principles but neglects the well-being of its most vulnerable members, children.

To wrap up, Blake conveys a social critique and challenges conventional beliefs about morality and charity in his poem “Holy Thursday.” The poem is part of Blake’s larger body of work, which often explores themes of innocence and experience, social injustice, and the corrupting influences of religion and society.