holy thursday poetry explication
Poetry Explication – “Holy Thursday” (Songs of Experience) by William Blake
Khizer (Ali) Syed
Nathan Dueck
English 200B
Feb 7, 2014
In William Blake’s poem, “Holy Thursday”, which is a component of the “Songs of Experience”, discusses the treatment of orphans in a vast “fruitful land” that is only motivated by self-interest. Furthermore, Blake illustrates the institutions these children reside and continues to discuss their lack of food, rain and “warmth”. He believes that society treats them poorly and mocks them by having them attend ceremonies, which do not benefit them. In each stanza, Blake reflects the various behaviors society exerts upon these deserted orphans.
To begin, in, the first stanza, Blake begins his poem with, “Is this a holy thing to see, In a rich and fruitful land, Babes reduced to misery, Fed with cold and ururous hand?” Blake uses the lines, “Is this a holy thing to see” and “Babes reduced to misery” that indicates the homeless kids that attend these religious ceremonies are socially expected to appear perfect and happy even though emotionally, they are not satisfied. He introduces the country as a “rich and fruitful land” which suggests that country is immersed in wealth, but yet, there are many orphans living in poverty. He continues to state they are, “Fed with cold usurious hand” which implies the institution is only motivated by self-interest, hinted by the minimal care the children receive and the lack of love. Additionally, the lack of heat is literal and also symbolic of the warmth of love they will never feel.
In the next stanza, Blake states, “Is that trembling cry a song? Can it be a song of joy?” This is a rhetorical question. These orphans are socially pressured into singing “song[s] of joy”, but when they begin to sing, it sounds like a “trembling cry”. The songs sung at this church are meant to be joyful, but due to the emotional emptiness, the songs are heard as cries rather than cheers. Secondly, the poem
Khizer (Ali) Syed
Nathan Dueck
English 200B
Feb 7, 2014
In William Blake’s poem, “Holy Thursday”, which is a component of the “Songs of Experience”, discusses the treatment of orphans in a vast “fruitful land” that is only motivated by self-interest. Furthermore, Blake illustrates the institutions these children reside and continues to discuss their lack of food, rain and “warmth”. He believes that society treats them poorly and mocks them by having them attend ceremonies, which do not benefit them. In each stanza, Blake reflects the various behaviors society exerts upon these deserted orphans.
To begin, in, the first stanza, Blake begins his poem with, “Is this a holy thing to see, In a rich and fruitful land, Babes reduced to misery, Fed with cold and ururous hand?” Blake uses the lines, “Is this a holy thing to see” and “Babes reduced to misery” that indicates the homeless kids that attend these religious ceremonies are socially expected to appear perfect and happy even though emotionally, they are not satisfied. He introduces the country as a “rich and fruitful land” which suggests that country is immersed in wealth, but yet, there are many orphans living in poverty. He continues to state they are, “Fed with cold usurious hand” which implies the institution is only motivated by self-interest, hinted by the minimal care the children receive and the lack of love. Additionally, the lack of heat is literal and also symbolic of the warmth of love they will never feel.
In the next stanza, Blake states, “Is that trembling cry a song? Can it be a song of joy?” This is a rhetorical question. These orphans are socially pressured into singing “song[s] of joy”, but when they begin to sing, it sounds like a “trembling cry”. The songs sung at this church are meant to be joyful, but due to the emotional emptiness, the songs are heard as cries rather than cheers. Secondly, the poem