Comprehensive Notes on 'London' by William Blake - AQA English Literature Power and Conflict

Understanding Blake and His London

Blake wasn't just any poet complaining about city life - he actually lived in London and watched it become consumed by greed and inequality. Writing during the Romantic era, he used his poetry as a weapon to fight against corruption and push for social change.

What made Blake different was his rebellious spirit. He was an anti-monarchist who rejected organised religion because he saw the church as corrupt, even though he considered himself Christian. He even taught his wife to read and write, which was quite radical for the time - showing he genuinely believed in equality.

The poem uses a first-person perspective, making it feel like Blake is personally taking you through London's streets and showing you exactly what's wrong. He's not just observing - he's actively criticising the authorities who've let the city fall into such a dangerous state.

Remember: Blake lived through these conditions himself, so this isn't just imagination - it's real social commentary from someone who experienced London's problems firsthand.

Structure and Language That Hits Hard

The poem's four regular stanzas with simple alternate rhyme schemes might seem basic, but that's the point. Blake contrasts this straightforward structure with the complex, seemingly endless problems he describes - making the issues feel even more overwhelming.

The cyclical structure suggests that London's suffering just goes on and on, like a broken record that won't stop. Blake uses iambic tetrameter that occasionally breaks down, representing the few chances people had to escape Georgian society's oppression.

Blake's language choices pack a serious punch. The phrase "marriage hearse" uses juxtaposition to contrast joy with death - showing how even marriage (supposedly a woman's dream) had become corrupted. When he repeats "chartered" (referring to 1700s laws that gave common land to wealthy landowners), he shows how even the Thames river has been claimed and controlled.

The "blackening church" works on multiple levels - literally referring to soot and smoke pollution, but also suggesting the moral corruption of religious institutions.

Key insight: Every technique Blake uses serves his main argument - that those in power have corrupted every aspect of London life, from nature to religion to relationships.