Introduction to “The Chimney Sweeper”
”The Chimney Sweeper” is one of the poems written by William Blake that are featured in the collections of Songs of Innocence published in 1789, and Songs of Experience published in 1794. Each of the poems describes the suffering and oppression of children working in the 18th century England, including the ‘black’ children who had to work as chimney-sweepers. By using contrasting and strong imagery, Blake is able to condemn the social and moral ills of his society , and bring into light the difficulties of these children and the conditions that make it possible for such things to happen.
In “The Chimney Sweeper” of the “Songs of Innocence” Blake provides the view of a young chimney sweeper, who is innocent and optimistic despite the fact that he is trapped in a cruel world. On the other hand, the content of the “Songs of Experience” is more pessimistic and cynical, that is, it describes the loss of innocence and the perversity of the world. These poems provide an amazing critique of innocence, oppression, and the denial of youth through the use of the chimney sweeper as a representation of other social vices.
Themes in “The Chimney Sweeper”
Theme#1
Innocence and Experience
Example from “Songs of Innocence”
When my mother died I was very young,
And my father sold me while yet my tongue
Could scarcely cry ‘weep! ‘weep! ‘weep! ‘weep!
So your chimneys I sweep & in soot I sleep.
The theme of innocence is reflected in the beginning of the ‘Songs of Innocence’ in a very touching manner. The boy who has lost his mother and was sold by his father into labor represents the innocent youth of the society corrupted by the societal exploitation.
Despite being in a rather poor condition, the child is still able to retain the sense of innocence, where he cannot even say the word ‘sweep’ correctly instead he cries ‘weep! weep!’ This shows that he is still a child and has not been able to understand and comprehend the cruel world of chimney sweeping.
Theme#2
Exploitation and Social Critique
Example from “Songs of Experience”
A little black thing among the snow,
Crying ‘weep! ‘weep!’ in notes of woe!
‘Where are thy father and mother? say?’
‘They are both gone up to the church to pray.
The “Songs of Experience” version is much more satirical and to the point, specifically, Blake condemns child labor and the societal institutions. When the child refers to the snow as a ‘little black thing,’ it sharply underlines the child’s soiled skin with the purity of the snow that represents his severe living conditions.
It’s the child’s parents that the boy claims are “gone up to the church to pray,” which suggests the society’s lack of care and morality. While they perform religious activities, they deny their child’s suffering which reveals the institutional religion and society’s inability to protect the vulnerable.
Theme#3
Hope and Despair
Example from “Songs of Innocence”
And by came an Angel who had a bright key,
And he open’d the coffins & set them all free;
Then down a green plain leaping laughing they run,
And wash in a river and shine in the Sun.
In “Songs of Innocence” one can find out that the poem is rather optimistic although the fact of that chimney sweepers’ life is rather dark: the main message is the vision of an angel. It should be noted that the angel and the liberation of children from ‘coffins’ reflects a liberation from suffering back to life and happiness.
Such imagery negates their realistic lives and implies that they are to be saved in some spiritual way from their suffering. However, this is a hope that is ironic, as it demonstrates the children’s desire to run away to other worlds to avoid their harsh realities.
Theme#4
The Corruption of Childhood
Example from “Songs of Experience”
Because I was happy upon the heath,
And smiled among the winter’s snow,
They clothed me in the clothes of death,
And taught me to sing the notes of woe.
While comparing the “Songs of Experience” version with “Songs of Innocence”, the former accentuates the topical issue of corruption of childhood through such aspects as the realities faced by the chimney sweepers.
The child remembers that he was once joyful and happy, and played freely, but then he was taken away and turned into a laborer being dressed in ‘the clothes of death’. This travesty of a transition from joy to suffering perfectly depicts the destructive impact of societal exploitation.
The “notes of woe” sung by Teddy represent the amount of pain he endures both mentally and physically for the work he performs, which emphasizes the theme of lost of innocence and the pervading corruption of youth by the adult world.
Theme#5
The Role of Religion
Example from “Songs of Innocence”
And so he was quiet, & that very night,
As Tom was a-sleeping he had such a sight!
That thousands of sweepers Dick, Joe, Ned & Jack
Were all of them lock’d up in coffins of black.
There is religious theme entwine in both versions of “The Chimney Sweeper.” In the “Songs of innocence” the reference made to the dream of a angel implies a religious hope in after life.
However, this also points towards the incapability of religious assurances to deal with the concrete pain of the chimney sweepers. The vision that the angel gives helps in calming the child and to accept the situation of his plight.
This has a propensity of reporting how religion can serve to comfort the oppressed instead of fighting against the injustices they endure in the present.
Example from “Songs of Experience”
And because I am happy & dance & sing,
They think they have done me no injury:
And are gone to praise God & his Priest & King,
Who make up a heaven of our misery.”
In “Songs of Experience,” though the positions expressed are not vastly different from those of “Songs of Innocence,” Blake is even more forthright in his condemnation of the religion’s complicity in the maintenance of the social evils. Forcing a child to become a laborer, parents and society alike are misled by their faith, considering their deeds to be holy.
The phrase “God & his Priest & King” indicates that the religious and political leaders work together to keep the things as they are, making a “heaven” made on the misery of those at the bottom of the society. This underlines the issue of holy pretensions and religious insincerity, alongside with the inability of religious bodies to defend the victims and assure justice.
See also: A Poison Tree Themes
Theme#6
Innocence and Hope Amidst Suffering
Example from “Songs of Innocence”
Tho’ the morning was cold, Tom was happy & warm;
So if all do their duty, they need not fear harm.
Despite the severity of the characters’ conditions, the idea of innocent and hope continues in “Songs of Innocence.“ Tom’s dream of warm angels indicates a kind of consolation for him even in the cold reality of his life.
The last two lines imply the moral of the story, encouraging the people to perform their duties to remain safe.
However, this abrupt ending also reflects the innocent tone of the child’s outlook on the world and the reality of the fact that performing one’s obligations guarantees nothing in an unjust society. Blake uses this theme to juxtapose the innocent optimism of childhood with the hard-hitting facts of their exploitation.
Theme#7
Critique of Societal Values
Example from “Songs of Experience”
And are gone to praise God & his Priest & King,
Who make up a heaven of our misery.”
Blake uses “The Chimney Sweeper” of “Songs of Experience”, to satirically comment on the social principles of that society. Grim’s poem shows how these children are neglected, suppressed and suffered at the hands of religious and political authorities.
Even if such submission seems to create a world that is more comfortable for us, the suggested vision of the afterlife implies that society’s leaders make up an imaginary heaven out of our suffering, while the rest of the population gains nothing to protect themselves from injustice.
This theme commits the readers to find their way in the society and shows society in the perspective of the prevalence of evil and the necessity to fight for justice.
See also: Themes in Antigone
Theme#8
Resilience and Resistance
Example from “Songs of Innocence”
And so Tom awoke; and we rose in the dark
And got with our bags & our brushes to work.
Tho’ the morning was cold, Tom was happy & warm;
So if all do their duty, they need not fear harm.
The theme of resilience and resistance is incorporated into “Songs of Innocence”. Despite the unfavorable environment and the hour of the day, Tom and other chimney sweepers get up to work.
Tom’s dream provide him a source of inner warmth and happiness and is a perfect example of how human spirit is never completely broken no matter how much one is tortured.
The last lines exemplify a rather naive view of the world where everything is divided into good and evil, but they also stress on the children’s resilience, who are still able to find happiness and optimism in their misery.
