Compare The Impression Of London Essay Example

that London is governed excessively, resulting in it having an empty and desolate disposition. This opposes Wordsworth's perception that London is abundant with disguises and changes. In the third stanza, Blake employs literal imagery to strengthen his dismal depiction of the urban environment depicted in 'London'.

'Every blackening church appalls,' not only indicates the physical dirtiness of the buildings, but also highlights the corrupt nature of the church and lack of faith in the city. In London, a highly religious city during this period, having an influential institute in such a state of disrepair and corruption gives an even more negative tone to the poem.

Both poems highlight the significance of People and Society. However, 'Westminster' places less emphasis on this theme. Towards the end, Wordsworth expresses his surprise at how little the people appreciate the city: "Dear God, the very houses seem asleep, and all that might heart is lying still!" The use of the word 'asleep' suggests that Wordsworth observes a shift occurring.

The quote 'in the smokeless air' illustrates the understanding that the city will soon be filled with smoke. This signifies the awakening and liveliness of the city. Additionally, the line 'Mighty heart is lying still' indicates that the industrial parts of London are not yet in action, but this will soon change. The use of 'mighty heart' emphasizes the significance of people and industry in London, while 'lying still' conveys the idea that it shouldn't be taken for granted and that it will soon transform into a bustling metropolis.

Contrasting with his previous statements, Blake clearly expresses his view on the people in 'London' by highlighting their weakness and depression in the first

stanza. These individuals are the common residents of the city, as mentioned earlier when he described wandering the streets and observing "marks of weakness, marks of woe" on every face he meets. Therefore, Blake portrays a negative portrayal of the people as he emphasizes their unfavorable characteristics without singling out specific individuals.

In the following stanza, Blake speaks of people being mentally trapped and restricted. This is highlighted by the line, "The mind-forg'd manacles I hear." By using the word "every," Blake generalizes that all individuals are unhappy and disappointed. It is evident that he believes everyone he encounters is trapped and miserable due to their mental state. This could potentially be attributed to the government's actions, as portrayed in the rest of the poem. In contrast, "Westminster" takes a completely different perspective on this theme.

Wordsworth frequently employs natural metaphors in his poetry and explores nature as a key theme, resulting in the city of London taking on an elegant and pure quality. His references to "valley, rock, hill" directly compare nature to industrial and man-made areas, with "valley" hinting at the lows London experiences and "hill" representing its highs. Upon closer inspection of the poem, other elements of nature are apparent in Wordsworth's inclusion of words and phrases that are subtly or wholly linked to nature, perfectly balancing them with London. These references suggest that nature and the city work harmoniously together, occasionally intertwining to their mutual benefit.

This illustrates that money and power do not solely control the city, unlike in Blake's poem. Although Wordsworth's and Blake's poems are on opposite ends of a spectrum, they both refer to the same topic. Wordsworth

closely links London with nature, creating a balance between the two. He portrays London as a carefree and calm place where people are the heart of the city and make it beautiful, with breathtaking architecture and an effective society. The city has soul and character that is pure, fresh, and clean. In contrast, Blake's poem expresses disgust with everything in London, including weak and ill people, a negative view of the city's future, dreary architecture, corruption in major institutions, and societal helplessness. Society is surrounded by the city walls and plagued with disaster and sorrow. Both poets wrote pieces about London, which are influential when looked at together. Comparing the two poems allows for valuable judgments to be made.

The poems differ significantly for various reasons, but fundamentally their concepts are at odds and incapable of evolving.