Holy Thursday (Song of Experience) : Themes
Holy Thursday (Song of Experience) is a notable literary work by William Blake. A complete discussion of this literary work is given, which will help you enhance your literary skills and prepare for the exam. Read the Main texts, Key info, Summary, Themes, Characters, Literary devices, Quotations, Notes, and various study materials of Holy Thursday (Song of Experience).
Themes
Child Poverty and Society’s Failure: In the poem “Holy Thursday” from Songs of Experience (1794), William Blake criticizes the way society treats poor children. The speaker of the poem points out that England is a rich country. But it lets many children become orphans and live in poverty. These children are sent to charity schools. They are asked to sing in church on Holy Thursday. The people in power think they are being kind, but Blake says their help is showy and selfish. They care more about looking good than truly helping. The poem says it’s wrong to celebrate charity when so many children suffer. The poem asks: what kind of society lets its children suffer like this?