Suffering in William Blake's London Research Paper

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This concept reveals the complexity of "psychological and physical damage" (Pagliaro), leaving one can to wonder, "whether it can be stopped and its root causes done away with ever" (Pagliaro). The answer to this question, and this state of mankind, is left up to the reader while Blake explores the inner and outer worlds through busy streets and a chartered river. Here we see entrepreneurs at work while the "weak and woeful state of Londoners comes through their faces" (Pagliaro). Harold Bloom makes a critical point about Blake when he says that he is a "poet in whom the larger apocalyptic impulse always contains the political as a single element in a more complex vision" (Bloom). Bloom notes that the third stanza alone addressed man oppression by society. The other stanzas "emphasize man's all-too-natural repression of his own freedom" (Bloom).

The irony in the poem is palpable. Early in the poem, Blake introduces the notion of misery and follows it with the notion of freedom. The city dwellers are undoubtedly free. However, the poet is asking what this could possible be worth in the face of misery and suffering. Freedom does not always come with the guarantee of happiness and peace all of the time. We do not like to think of this nor do we enjoy thinking that we could be the main source of our own suffering. Misery comes from "the mind-forged manacles" (8) of the people in the city, states the poet. He is basically telling us that the suffering is self-inflicted.

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The people are somewhat responsible for their own happiness and it may be time for them to stop and think about what ails them and take steps to make changes that might bring them more peace and freedom.

Blake's "London" focuses on man's suffering and the causes of this suffering. The poet walks the streets and sees how everything turns on itself and every cry seems to be one of agony as the people fight to survive. The people in this city are free but the image we see here is not one generally associated with freedom. Instead, we are faced with the bleak forecast of another lifetime of suffering under the bitter forces of moral decay while the city continues to grow and feed on itself. The beautiful city is marred by the suffering that seems to overwhelm those who live. The church is there but it does not seem to serve the people. Meanwhile, society implodes leaving us to ponder how much of our own suffering we bring upon ourselves. Blake is telling us that living is a challenge and we simply cannot expect the government or the church to take care of us when we have the capability to do so ourselves.

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