Blake Post

I agree with the editors of the textbook that Blake's poetry has the power to enact social change, but not by appealing to the imagination of the reader, but rather the emotions of the reader. In his poem from Songs of Innocence, "The Chimney Sweeper", Blake paints a picture of a very young boy who has lost his mother and seems somewhat neglected by his father as indicated in line 2. Within the first two lines of the poem, the reader already develops a sympathy for the young boy. Once the reader reads about Tom's dream, the reader gains a sense of hope. Whether they can directly relate to the plight of the young boys, or abstractly, that sense of hope can motivate them to perservere or rely on religion in the case of the poem to get through the challenge they are facing. However, the version of the poem in Songs of Experience does not convey that message. The tone and emotion of that rendition is pity.

The editors of the textbook might have included this document to help give a background to the main character of the poem. Its inclusion only reinforces the pity and sympathy that I feel for the young boy; learning about the working conditions and effects of child labor.