In the two poems titled 'The Chimney Sweeper',
William Blake provides a glimpse into the strenuous life of a child chimney
sweeper in the 18th century. Despite being predominantly passages of hardship
and misfortune, both poems tackle the idea of hope vs despair in a culture
where children's needs are brushed aside to the point of a created hell. By
utilizing environmental imagery, biblical illusions, and situational irony,
Blake emotionally argues neither parents nor the church addresses the poor
child labor conditions that enables children to lose faith in God.
Both iterations of the poems focus on a central
topic: small children working in rough conditions. Of course, those conditions
are cramped, crowded areas that generally give off the impression of broken
child labor laws in contemporary society. In the 1789 poem, however, it is
clear that many adults did not find fault with these rules as "thousands
of sweepers... were all lock'd up in coffins of black" (line 11). This
imagery directly contrasts the "white hair" (line 8). Blake coolly
uses colors to differentiate life in a chimney and life on regular ground.
Black often symbolizes evil, despair, death, or unclean. White represents
purity and innocence. By ending both stanzas on these colors, black being the
color to represent the coffins, it is clear that allowing the children to quit
is the best option in Blake's opinion. This further backed up by how after they
are set free they "wash in a river and shine in the Sun" (line 16).
Such environmental imagery is not a mistake as it connotes a positive
place to be live a fulfilled life, and can be interpreted as heaven to young
children.
Images of despair does not leave the reader's mind
in the 1794 poem. The author again chooses to signify a "black thing among
the snow" to clearly show how the children must do unthinkable actions.
Blake then references the children sweeping, but emphasizes the lisping, "
'weep, 'weep,". It is no mistake by the author that this jargon was
utilized. Instead of time being spent on fixing the children's lisp and
providing them a strong education, they are instead being forced to work in
horrible conditions for hours. It makes a person truly feel sorry for the
children, and how conditions did not change in a five year time period.
Blake also plays off the audience's emotion by
alluding to Christianity in both poems, although each poem takes a slightly
different approach to the issue. The 1789 poem is hopeful and optimistic that
eventually child labor conditions will improve. This tone is Blake's message at
the end of poem when he says, "So if all do their duty, they need not fear
harm." He's calling on all the kids to continue living because some day
their opportunity to quit being a chimney sweeper will come. This is represented
by the Angel, who comes one day with a bright key to set all the children free
from the hell in which they live. The Angel guides them and states, "if
he'd be a good boy, He'd have God for his father & never want joy."
Blake believes that by being a good, quiet chimney sweeper, he will work his
way out of the current predicament. The children are being told they will not
have to hope for joy; instead, they will always be joyful by default. This
strong, patient attitude is held together by faith in God. The children only
have God to fall back on when the going gets tough.
Blake's tone in the 1794 poem changes dramatically.
The speaker is extremely distraught when he mentions being tied up in
"clothes of death". And although that is a profound statement of disapproval,
it is not what drives his thought process. In both poems he knew chimney
sweeping was a horrible responsibility. The poem's response five years later is
truly eye-opening as it portrays a disconnect between the strength of faith
with God. Blake says in the last stanza, "And because I am happy, &
dance & sing, They think they have done me no injury, And are gone to
praise a God & his Priest & King, Who make up a heaven of our
misery" (9-12). Again, the relationship between father and son is
recognized as strained. In this poem, however, Blake is questioning the
effectiveness of God's power. Is he truly a good person, and if so, why would
he allow these treacherous conditions to survive year after year? It is an age
old dilemma on suffering in the world. He also raises the question, why do the
ones that practice religion inflict pain on others?
It is ironic that because the children tried to see
the light at the end of the tunnel, that in turn they are punished by
continuously sweeping the children. Blake emphasizes in the 1794 poem that
parents and adults are to blame for their troubles. He might have been annoyed
by them five years earlier, but now he is shifting his frustrations to
accusations of parenting incompetency. Irony continues to wade its way through
the poem as he makes the connection with God. If God represents good and
resides in heaven, how come the world in which he created is hell for the
children? And why should those parents feel accomplished for attending church
when their actions are cruel and misguided? Blake continues to talk out loud
here. He doesn't have a call to action (as he did in the previous poem). In
fact, it seems like he has gained clarity but lost ideas. He is incredibly
frustrated with the church’s influence, as children practice Christian values
on Sunday, but are extremely miserable the rest of the week. If the church
wanted to truly help others, they would use donated money and help raise
awareness of the hazardous lives children must live. Whether that’s a fair challenge
is up for debate; after all, we only hear Blake’s side of the story.
Regardless, Blake’s sentiment is surely agreed upon by many others, potentially
on a host of issues. As religious skeptics would always question, is the church
really doing all they can to help? Smiling in the winter’s snow does little
good if you’re singing the notes of woe.
William Blake is adamant
in his disapproval of putting children in harm’s way as a chimney sweeper, even
if it was not considered unethical in the late 1700s. He appeals to the
emotions of the reader by utilizing environmental imagery. Though perhaps his
most subtle argument is the critique of the church. How can the church preach
humane values yet put the most innocent, additionally without a true influential
voice, individuals in a society at risk? Blake is advocating for funding to
improve a chimney sweeper’s lifestyle, a genuine positive a poet can have on
his community.
