William Blake's Songs of Innocence and Experience give a strong yet unique view of the Romantic period. The Romantic period was a time that experienced many revolutions such as political, industrial, and even social. Being born and living in London, William Blake was able to experience and look at first hand how life was during the Romantic period. As he expressed his thoughts and visions in his poems, he creates many different images of the time that can be interpreted in different ways. However, Blake's poem, "London", expresses life and society the best as it was in his hometown during these tough times.
             The first verse tells us that someone wandering the streets of London is narrating the poem. This person records what he sees but does not identify himself. The feeling of plainness and sameness in London is given as both the streets of London and the Thames River are described by the word "charter'd"(56). This foreshadows society as being in a constant activity yet lifeless with no true meaning. Also, London can be interpreted in an industrial sense illustrating a place of greed and love for money. Society can be seen as a bunch of people enslaved to money creating a senseless place.
             The emphasis of sameness in London is shown once again in the second verse. The word "every"(56) is mentioned five times in the verse. The narrator expresses that each different voice he heard was indistinguishable. This shows that they all share the same ideas such as fear, sadness, and weakness. The next two verses both relate harsh, brutal images to London. London is seen as being filled with poverty, disease, and corruption. The mentioning of "the youthful Harlot's curse"(56) indicates how corrupted London's society really was. Sex was being exploited to the fullest as disease spread through society. Also, the use of "midnight streets"(56) to describe London
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