Symbols, And Connotation In William Blake's Poem London

The London Bridge is Falling Down: The Use of Repetition, Symbols, and Connotation in William Blake’s Poem “London” People dream about getting married, having children, and working a successful job. These are among some of the most common goals and aspirations that humans hold close to them. However, it is not as easy as it seems because life throws everyone curve balls from time to time. Whether it is growing up in a city people look up to such as London only to have adulthood hit you in the face with responsibilities or getting bad news, life is not always the way we want it. In William Blake’s poem “London”, he uses literary devices such as repetition, symbols, and connotation to portray the idea that life is far from easy and struggling

For example, repeating, “charter’d” (2,3) signifies the control that the government has on elements of London such as the streets and even the river that was not manmade. This repetition in the beginning of the poem sets the depressing tone for the rest of it. Another instance is the word “cry”. Crying has the connotation of sadness and sorrow, which means it fits with the tone well. Having this emotion appear three times in lines five, six, and nine emphasizes how the citizens of London feel. People wish to be happy so when every man, baby, and child are crying, it puts the city as a whole into perspective. The families are not financially stable enough forcing them to send their young children to work in the chimneys and the men that are soldiers are forced to enforce the laws which could mean using violence that in turn results in “blood down Palace walls” (12). With life comes an array of emotions and it is saddening when sorrow is a common feeling throughout a city especially among children who have the connotation of being happy, innocent, and having no worries. This is among one of the effects Blake’s poem has on his audience: feeling sorry for the citizens of