William Blakes' poetry

Perhaps one of the major views expressed in the poetry of William Blake, is the notion that institutions and industrial movement corrupt the simple and natural way of human living. Such parallels are artistically drawn in both ‘London’ and ‘Milton’, as the themes and issues explored are that of which both poems - though in different contexts - share.

Although there are several metaphors employed in ‘London’, perhaps the most central one to the underlying views of Blake are found in ‘the mind-forg’d manacles’ of the second stanza. Here, Blake describes the human mind as a forge where ‘manacles’ are made. In his time, manacles and shackles may have been often seen on convicts as they passed along the streets of London’s, possibly on their way to ships, for transportation to Australia. The imagery of manacles could also refer to man’s lack of freedom from the laws created by those in authority.

Similar ideas can be seen in the poems opening lines, where th...