London (William Blake poem)

[2][3] Consequently, the poem critically examines the social conditions of the time, particularly the exploitation of the poor, while also addressing the loss of individual freedom and the moral decay of society.

Blake's writing is thought to reflect his response to the industrial revolution and political unrest in England, as he sought to highlight the suffering of the city's inhabitants.

But most thro’ midnight streets I hear How the youthful Harlots curse Blasts the new-born Infants tear And blights with plagues the Marriage hearse.

Through vivid and repetitive imagery, Blake portrays a society marked by oppression, particularly emphasizing how institutions like the church and the monarchy contribute to systemic despair.

He draws attention to the suffering of marginalized groups, such as chimney sweeps, soldiers, and prostitutes, who bear the brunt of the city's moral and economic corruption.

Through stark imagery like the "youthful harlot's curse" and "runs in blood down palace walls", Blake critiques the moral decay that spreads across generations, exacerbating the cycle of poverty and suffering.

But most thro’ midnight streets I hear How the youthful Harlots curse Blasts the new-born Infants tear And blights with plagues the Marriage hearse[11] In Songs of Innocence and Experience, William Blake made deliberate alterations to the wording and arrangement of poems across different editions of his work, particularly in the first prints of 1794.

This phrase may signify Blake’s view of the church as an institution complicit in the suffering of the population, symbolically “darkened” by its failure to address social issues like poverty and child labor.

Scholars suggest that Blake used this imagery to critique the church's alignment with oppressive structures rather than acting as a force for compassion and support in society (Frye, 1947; Thompson, 1993).

The phrase suggests that the palace—or monarchy—is metaphorically "stained" with the blood of the oppressed, pointing to the exploitation and suffering endured by lower classes as a result of the monarchy’s policies (Erdman, 1988; Bentley, 2004).

Scholars have noted that this line critiques the societal impact of poverty and the breakdown of traditional family structures in the face of industrial and urban pressures (Bentley, 2004).

Similarly, Benjamin Britten incorporated the poem into his 1965 cycle Songs and Proverbs of William Blake, exploring the themes of oppression and corruption present in the work.