London

William Blake's poem "London" depicts a very depressing setting.  The tone is quite clear however the who, what, where, when, and why are left out.  It is up to the reader and the knowledge he/she posses to best interpret a text.  It begins with a man walking down city streets observing all the poverty and sadness that has reaped his town. Other than the title …

…poem is prostitution.  Blakes view on religion is important in understanding his view of prostitution.   Blake writes "But most through midnight streets I hear how the youthful Harlot's curse Blasts the new-born Infant's tear, And blights with plague the marriage hearse... Being a song of experience and published in 1794, it maintains the somber, dark moods and images that are typical of both the Period and the collection of poems.