Wordsworth’s poem, “London 1802” does not provide a more effective, thorough, and powerful critique of 19th Century London’s social and political corruption, however, Blake’s poem, “London”, does. Blake’s poem, “London”, does provide a more effective and powerful critique of 19th Century London’s social and political corruption through his use of imagery and figurative language. Through the use of synecdoches, metonymies, metaphors, similes, and imagery Blake paints a very critical perspective of 19th Century London.
In “London” Blake uses metaphors to describe how pitiful London was at the turn of the 19th Century. In line 8 Blake writes “Mind-forg’d manacles” which is a metaphor for all the different ways the political and intellectual climate of 1970s London “enslaves” people. In lines 11 and 12 Blake describes London when he writes, “the hapless Soldiers sigh, Runs in blood down Palace walls” which is his way of metaphorically accusing the palace, which is a symbol of a corrupt government, for forcing innocent men to murder and plunder in wars. Along with figurative language, Blake also uses strong imagery to provide a powerful critique of 19th Century London’s social and political corruption. For example in lines 9 and 10 he provides a powerful image of children chimney sweepers “appall” every “blackening church” symbolizing his distaste for the common exploitation of children and the Church’s acceptance of it in the early 19th Century. Also in lines 13-16 he writes that instead of hearing the sweet Thames he hears a prostitute curse out her infant for crying. This for me really paints a realistic, thorough, and powerful critique of 19th Century London’s social and political corruption compared to Wordsworth’s poem.
Wordsworth’s poem, “London 1802”, offers a more natural, romanticized critique of 19th Century London which I do not think offers as effective a critique on London’s social and political corruption as Blake did. Wordsworth never writes about images of corruption, instead, he calls for England’s poetic hero, John Milton, to magically fix this “swamp” that has become London. Along with requesting the help from a dead poet, Wordsworth uses figurative language to tell the reader London needs help and not offering images of what corruption there looked like. For example Wordsworth uses a simile in line 9 when he writes, “Thy soul was like a Star” calling upon Milton’s god-like abilities to shine brighter than the average person. Maybe Wordsworth thought that Milton would be able to offer guidance on bringing London back to its glory but it certainly does not offer a powerful critique of in the way Blake achieves. In lines 3 and 4 he uses two synecdoches, “altar” and “Fireside” to represent the English Church and the security and safety the people in London get from being at home and proceeds to write how these virtues were taken away by corruption. This does aid a good image of London people suffering but not necessarily an image of corruption. Wordsworth also uses a metaphor in lines 2 and 3 when he writes, “she is a fen of Stagnant waters” which hints at Wordsworth’s opinion of London in 1802 as a dirty, full of disease, and unpleasant place. He believes London is just like the stagnant waters of a swamp yet that image does not provide the more effective and powerful picture of London’s economic and social climate of the early 19th Century as well as Blake’s “London” does.
Introduction to Poetry 