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
The poet walks through the streets of London. He sees that every street and even the River Thames is controlled by people in power. He notices sadness and pain on everyone’s face in this city. He hears the cry of every man and every child. He feels that people are trapped. People are trapped by the rules made by society and “mind-forg’d manacles” or chains made by the mind.
The speaker then hears the cry of young chimney sweepers. He feels that the Church, which should help people, does nothing. The Church or religion seems dark, dirty, and corrupted. He hears the sad sighs of soldiers. Their blood stains the walls of the palace. It means the leaders are to blame for the suffering of the soldiers.
At night, the speaker hears young prostitutes. These young prostitutes curse or abandon their unwanted babies. Prostitution also ruins marriages and spreads diseases. The husbands are not loyal to their wives, and they go to prostitutes. It makes the marriage a hearse (like a vehicle that carries dead bodies). The speaker/poet feels that London is full of sadness, pain, and injustice. In London, people suffer under a cruel system.