THE CHIMNEY SWEEPER's about the Author:
William Blake (1757–1827) English poet, painter, and visionary is renowned for his works that challenge public and religious customs. Blake examines the complexity of human nature in his poetry books - Songs of Innocence and Songs of Experience, with a focus on the exploitation of the weak and mainly children.
The Chimney Sweeper Summary:
Blake gives voice to the story of young children who were forced to labour as chimney sweepers in 18th-century England in The Chimney Sweeper. These children were very little and agile, and their families regularly sold them or sent them to work in dangerous environments cleaning soot-filled chimneys. Blake shows different perspectives on this difficult life with two versions of the poem, one in Songs of Innocence and another in Songs of Experience.
The Chimney Sweeper from Songs of Innocence
The first version (Songs of Innocence) tells the tale of a little child who was sold as a chimney sweeper by his father. after the death of his mother. He keeps a youthful innocence in spite of his challenging circumstances, accepting his situation without bitterness. Early on, the boy becomes friends with Tom Dacre, a fellow young chimney sweeper who is having a hard time adjusting to their harsh being. To avoid soot getting caught in their hair, chimney sweepers frequently shave their heads, which makes Tom very upset. His shaven head begins to represent his lost freedom and innocence.
Tom has a dream that night that makes him feel better. As imagery for the miserable reality of their job, he sees himself and other teenage chimney sweepers in the dream locked in black coffins. An angel suddenly comes up, releasing them from the coffins and guiding them into bright, green fields where kids can play, run, and take a bath in a crystal-clear river. The angel in this dream world promises Tom that he will be happy and free in heaven if he is "a good boy." Tom feels strengthened and comforted by his dream and awakens with a renewed feeling of hope. He believes that his suffering will ultimately result in a peaceful afterlife; therefore, he approaches his job with a lighter heart.
Blake offers the viewpoint of innocence in this version, where hope and faith provide strength in the face of sorrow. The young chimney sweeper's genuine belief in a better future is evident in his horrible and inspiring acceptance of his situation. The poem reflects the harsh realities of child labour during that time but also offers a message of hope and faith.
