Metaphors In London

During the romantic era London was a place of beauty with underlying darkness. Both William Blake and William Wordsworth address this in their poems “London” and “Composed Upon Westminster Bridge”. The poems are eight years apart and both written in London. Europe was going through its Industrial Revolution during this time. These poets see London in opposite
Ways; using metaphors, personification, and imagery both poets show their points of views. Blake for the people’s sorrow and Wordsworth for its landscape.
Even though both Blake and Wordsworth use metaphors they use them in a way that contradict each other. Blake says within his poem,” In every cry of every man/ in every infant's cry of fear/ In every voice, every ban/The mind-forged manacles I hear” (5-8). He is describing it as a loud place full of the sounds of sadness and fear. While in
Both poets talk about the Thames river. In Blake’s poem he says, “Near where the charter'd Thames does flow”(3). Wordsworth remarks,”The river glideth at his own sweet will.”(12). If there’s one thing these writers have in common, is their admiration for the Thames river. They both use the river as a symbol of freedom and grace. Undoubtedly, Imagery is predominant in Blake and Wordsworth’s poems. “And mark in every face I meet/ Marks of weakness, marks of woe,”(3-4). Blake mentions, while Wordsworth says,”All bright and glittering in the smokeless air.”(8). Blake paints a picture of the people, and how they feel. Wordsworth opens the door to nature around London. They used imagery to help the reader see and feel what both Blake and Wordsworth are as they write these poems.
Both of these poets let you into their thoughts in their own unique and different perspectives. Those mindsets show London in opposite ways. Through the use of metaphors, personification, and imagery they show the reader the world that London is, late 1700