London : Summary
London 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 London.
Summary
Summary of the Poem “London”
To better understand the poem “London,” we can divide it into 5 parts. Let’s discuss this.
Description of the City of London: The poet depicts a city drowned in darkness and misery. He described walking the streets of London, where he saw the river Thames. This is now losing its normal flow and being controlled by humans. It reveals the dehumanizing effects of rapid urban expansion and the loss of natural beauty.
The Condition of the People of London: He saw signs of weakness and despair on the faces of the people. The poet mentions that the condition of the people in the city is pathetic. People of all ages suffer from pain. People cry like newborn babies for fear of insecurity. In every man’s cursing cry, the poet realizes that the ruling class is treating the common people as they like due to their greed for power. Common people are deprived of basic facilities. People’s normal lives have been hampered in various ways.
Failure of the Ruling Group: The ruling group is using the military to maintain its influence. The poet highlights the oppressive nature of the monarchy and the church. He emphasizes the pain and misery felt by the hapless soldier by the blood stains on the palace walls. He actually points to a connection between the violence of war and the complicity of the ruling power. The ruling party has failed to win the hearts of the people. As a result of their corruption and misrule, chaos has been increased in the society.
Failure of the Church: The Church has failed in its responsibilities. The church has provided less moral education. Because of this, the streets of London are seen with prostitutes. If it were not for the lack of moral education, prostitutes would not be seen offering their bodies for money. Because of this illegal relationship, children are born, and society does not accept them. These street children do not find happiness in their lives. If the church had made the practice of marriage more accessible in society from a religious point of view, this kind of problem would not have spread like an epidemic.