William Blake's London - Tone

This was a terrific poem with some catchy lines, “marks of weakness, marks of woe.” However, despite its clever and witty use of words, the poem’s tone is not funny or charming at all. In fact, after several re-readings, “London” conveys a tone of fiery anger.

The first stanza is more somber than angry. Blake notices the woeful nature of his compatriots while wandering the streets of London. Every person he meets carries a mark of woe or sadness. The second verse is where the anger starts to build up. As Blake lists all the terrible things about London, you can just hear his voice rising with every “every.” This sort of repetition creates emphasis which is akin to saying a word louder and louder with more and more emotion; in this case, anger. The stanza ends with “mind-forged manacles,” a symbol for oppression of the people. Since Blake was around during the French Revolution, he certainly realizes that the people have full right to revolt except for the mental barriers imposed on them by their government. From this last line, it almost seems that Blake is angry at the people for not revolting.

The next stanza is another list of reasons to hate London; The dreadful situation of London Chimney-sweepers and the soldiers who are defending a government not worth dying for. In the last stanza, Blake uses a situation to emphasize his dark tone. A Harlot passes her disease to her child and to the men who seek her services. These men would take her diseases back to the marriages which end in a hearse. This dark situation set during “midnight” reveals the evil nature of London and what it’s doing to the people.

pg.841