What Do You Know About “Holy Thursday”?

Answer

What do you know about Holy Thursday?

“Holy Thursday” is a poem by William Blake (1757-1827), part of his collection “Songs of Innocence and Experience.” This poem comes in two versions, one in the “Innocence” section and the other in the “Experience” section, showing the stark contrast between the idealized, innocent view of the world and the more cynical, experienced perspective.

Children from Charity Schools: In “Songs of Innocence,” “Holy Thursday” depicts a celebratory scene of children from charity schools parading through London to St. Paul’s Cathedral. It highlights the joy and beauty of these children. They are dressed in clean, colorful clothes to celebrate this religious occasion. The poem focuses on the purity and innocence of the children and the positive aspects of the event.

Twas on a Holy Thursday, their innocent faces clean,

The children walking two & two, in red & blue & green

Hypocrisy and Societal Neglect: However, the tone shifts dramatically in the “Experience” version. Blake becomes critical of the societal treatment of these children, painting a darker picture of their exploitation and neglect by institutions. He contrasts the grandeur of the cathedral with the poverty and suffering of the children, criticizing the hypocrisy and societal neglect that allow such inequalities to persist.

And their sun does never shine,

And their fields are bleak and bare,

And their ways are filled with thorns,

It is eternal winter there.

Both versions explore themes of innocence, experience, social injustice, and the stark realities faced by vulnerable members of society. Blake uses these contrasting perspectives to critique the societal norms and the treatment of the underprivileged, highlighting the dichotomy between appearances and underlying truths.