Blake and Wordsworth's Descriptions of the City in London and Westminster Bridge

Blake and Wordsworth's Descriptions of the City in London and Westminster Bridge

The poets Blake and Wordsworth have wrote two opposing poems, which

express different opinions of industrial places. I will be comparing

the language and attitude expressed by both poets. Blake seems to

express extreme dislike towards London, whilst Wordsworth expresses

like, and peace in his view towards Westminster Bridge.

In the first two lines Blake expresses clear dislike in the way the

Thames has been treated. In the first line he gives the word charter'd

meaning by saying that the streets are "each charter'd street", this

gives the meaning of "mapped". He calls the Thames mapped because of

the way it has been modified to flow in a direction to man's liking,

he is also saying that the Thames is now as unnatural as the city,

Blake dislikes this as we know he is a natural loving person. He the

goes on to say that man is spiritually weak "marks of weakness, marks

of woe", and that people are saddened at having to live in the city.

He than goes on in the second stanza by saying that children see the

way Blake does "in every infants cry of fear", and that they have not

yet accepted that they have no choice but to live in London. He

stresses this by later saying "The mind-forg'd manacles I hear", by

saying that man has imprisoned himself in the town and that they

believe that there is no way in which they can leave.

In the third stanza he stresses that people do not want to be in

London by giving reasons. He states that the Chimney-sweeper is under

attack from soot. He continues to say that the Church is appalled, and

ruined, and is probably saying that the church has turned black due to

the amount of pollution in London's air. He continues and states that

a soldier on patrol sighs with unhappiness.

In the fourth stanza he says that in London there are prostitutes

"Harlot" and is probably referring to way that she repulses God