Thursday, November 10, 2011

London by William Blake, p. 802

How does Blake's use of imagery serve to characterize 18th century, London?

11 comments:

bekaht12 said...

Blake's "London" paints a destitute, miserable picture of 18th century London. He describes the faces of Londoners as "marks of weakness, marks of woe." The people are characterized as depressed and frustrated. Blake also describes the people as being mentally chained and crying for release. He uses dark and grotesque imagery of blackening churches and blood on the walls of the palace to characterize the tyranny of the royalty in London who hurt the common people. These dark images display how London was terrible a place to live for the commoners in the 18th century.

CK said...

Blake's use of dark and sensory imagery in "London" portrays it as a terrible place to live. The reader first sees sensory imagery when the speaker says "Infant's cry of fear." This image of a baby crying appeals directly to the reader's senses because he can hear the baby in his own head. Next, the speaker mentions "mind-forged manacles." This dark imagery illustrates a prisoner walking in the town. Along with the prisoner, a "Soldier's sigh" fills the streets. All of these negative images used by Blake characterize 18th century London as a horrible place to live.

Aaron Bowman said...

In the poem "London", the speaker characterizes the 18th century London as a horrific place. In order to portray this, he utilizes imagery. For example,the speaker states "And the hapless Soldier's sigh Runs in blood down Palace walls." First of all, just imagining blood going down a palace wall makes me think of disturbance. Because the London palace represents the government, it is evident that the palace has caused the bloodshed upon the people. Also, an image of a Infant crying is given to portray the demeanor of the 18th century London. Through the images of blood and cries, it is obvious the speaker is describing London as a terrible place.

Mary Caitlin said...

Blake uses dark and grotesque imagery to characterize 18th century London as a horrible place to be. "Runs in blood down Palace walls" shows the grotesque imagery. London is not a very pretty place at this time. As Aaron Bowman said, the Palace has caused bloodshed among all of the people. "Marks of weakness, marks of woe," shows the dark imagery Blake uses. The people of London are depressed and they do not like living there. "Every black'ning Church appalls" also illustrates the dark imagery Blake uses. The Church is not as strong in London, it is weakening. London was a sad and scary place in the 18th century.

cdm37 said...

Dark imagery is used by Blake to describe the atrocious condition of 18th century London. "Marks of weakness, marks of woe" is the strongest use of imagery in the poem. Everywhere in London has signs of misery and depression. Also, many people are described as crying in the poem. In the second stanza Blake says. "In every cry of every Man, In every Infant's cry of fear". The image of people being sad and crying is the confirmation of how horrible the city actually was.

annamac said...

Blake's use of imagery characterizes 18th century London as a terrible, dirty place to live. He says, "And the hapless Soldier's sigh / Runs in blood down Palace walls." With such grotesque imagery Blake reveals the lawlessness and injustice that prevailed during this time. He also describes the fear of the infants, women, and even the men to further prove that the people of London lived in constant worry. The imagery in "London" characterizes the city of London as place full of miserable people and crime. Blake obviously is trying to reveal the problems of 18th century London with this poem.

Anonymous said...

William Blake's poem "London" describes London as a very wretched city, in which the people are suffering miserably. To more vividly portray this place in such a way, Blake uses sensory, dark, and grotesque imagery. "Weakness" and "woe" are the first images we see, followed immediately by the sound of people crying. This sensory imagery allows the reader to feel the deep despair present within the common people at the time. Dark and grotesque imagery are seen in "black'ning Church appalls," "blood down Palace walls," and "blights with plagues the Marriage hearse." These pictures of death and darkness reveal the oppression brought on by the government and the military of London during the 18th century.

Seth Frazier said...

In "London" the use of imagery is very prominent in describing the setting. "Marks of weakness, marks of woe" gives the reader a mental picture of the people of London. "And the hapless Soldier's sigh / Runs in blood down Palace walls." paints a vivid description of how the government in London is having a long term affect on people's lives.

Bwood said...

In William Blake's poem, "London," he is showing the reader the destruction and devastation that has occurred in London. He is using images such as, "I wander through each chartered street," and, "In every cry of every man," to show the despair that the people of London are feeling. These images also show that it is not one particular group of people that are suffering. He emphasizes that every person is impoverished. Even the children cannot escape this imprisonment. They are putting their lives at stake to work and provide for their families. The images in "London" depict the poverty that the people face.

Rubik said...

Blake's Dark Imagery portrays London as a dark place in the 18th Century. The main thing I'd like to focus on is the 4th Stanza. It talks about prostitutes. It is explaining that with all the prostitution, it is tainting the "Marriage hearse". Because of all the prostitution, it plagues and blights the hearse. It makes the Marrage herse seem like a terrible vehicle to jump into. It makes it seem repulsive with its binding contracts and endless demands. It makes it seem as a nightmare to the people getting inside this plauged vehicle.

DTrag said...

Blake uses dark and grotesque imagery to paint a picture of London during the 18th century. He uses grotesque imagery when saying,"Runs in blood down Palace walls" to show the dismayal and desolation of London at the time. Blake also illustrated the people as being chained down and begging to be set free. Their despair and pain is brought upon by the awfulness of the city. His use of imagery clearly display the horrible aspects of London at the time.