William Blake

Analytical Essay # 59397

English > Analysis
Literature > Poetry

William Blake

A brief analysis of the the symbolism in the poems, "The Sick Rose," "The Tyger," and "London," by William Blake.

1,083 words () | 8 sources | MLA | 2003 United States

Paper Summary:

This paper examines how William Blake describes the suffering caused by British culture with his symbolical exploration of a woman as a rose in the poem, "The Sick Rose," evil as a tiger in the poem, "The Tyger," and the city London as a symbol of the political oppression of the entire British Empire in his poem, "London".

From the Paper:

""London" describes this political oppression of the English monarchy in the late eighteenth century. The city of London is the capital of a country and also of a "culture" that represents the conditions of the British Empire. During this time, eighteenth century, the laws of the British monarchy cause much human suffering. Throughout the poem "London," William Blake makes use of layered meanings and references. For example, he uses the word "chartered" (1) to mean "preemted as private property, and rented out". This is a reference to the aristocracy's ownership and landholding. In fact, Blake says that in the world nothing is free, not even the minds and souls of the people."