Virtue and Limitations in
William Blake's "The Chimney Sweeper"
Innocence and experience are two opposing forces that have their own virtues and limitations. William Blake demonstrates this notion in his poems, "The Chimney Sweeper." Blake recognizes the fact that innocence and experience are phases of life that we pass through. As a result, one phase is not necessarily better than the other is - they just are. In his collection of innocence poems, "The Chimney Sweeper" emphasizes innocence with positive images of youth, peace, and simplicity. From the experience collection, "The Chimney Sweeper" is spoken from a more mature voice and carries a more somber view. These poems, when read together, represent life itself and the changes we must go through when becoming an adult. Through tone, imagery, and point of view, Blake expresses two walks of life. With innocence, there is more joy, freedom, and peacefulness and with experience comes reality, pain, and suffering. Innocence cannot last forever because life will not allow it. While innocence is more pleasant, it cannot survive in the real world. Experience is simply a result of living and it should not be seen as the horrible opposite of innocence but rather the result of being alive. Experience brings knowledge as well as reality and
The angel is a hero in that she opens "the coffin and set[s] them all free" (Blake The Chimney Sweeper 13-4). Hope is also an important aspect of this poem. In addition, Tom is surrounded with positive imagery in that he is "happy and warm" (23-4). Blake stresses this innocence in "The Chimney Sweeper" from Songs of Innocence. Harrison maintains, "What Blake is doing here, however, is to create a rhythm for the poem as ingenious as its tone" (Harrison). They rise to the clouds and "sport in the wind" (18). It is also worth noting that Blake makes social commentary with poems. " Blake successfully achieves convincing us that while each has its positive attributes, they can be equally negative. They are obviously poor and working despite the fact that they are children. Side by side, they tell a story of life itself growing from young and innocent and mature and wise. In the experience version of this poem, we see the same type of commentary on children but we do not see the same reaction from the child. This voice is believable because we see it in the eyes of children and we hear it in their voices. We should appreciate each one for what they are and realize that they will be regardless of our efforts. All of these images force us to confront the harsh reality of being alive. Harrison adds that the tone of the poem is captured "perfectly, rendered so faithfully, precisely because repeated with such unquestioning trust (Harrison).
Common topics in this essay:
Chimney Sweeper,
James Harrison,
Tom He'd,
Sweeper Blake,
Innocence Blake,
William Blake,
chimney sweeper,
,
phase life,
innocence experience,
version poem,
speaker poem,
Blake Chimney,
emphasizes innocence positive,
chimney sweeper allows,
poems chimney sweeper,
emphasizes innocence,
believe speaker,
somber view,
innocence positive,
life innocence,
blake chimney sweeper,
chimney sweeper blake,
|
Acceptance Essays
