Holy Thursday

Holy Thursday

Songs of Experience

This is a dark time in England's history.  The economy is unstable; it's the beginning of the Industrial Revolution, the majority of its citizens are in poverty throughout the land and child labor was ramped.  Where the rich Industrialist had an over powering, over inflated life style compared to the average person and did not care how their labor was fed.  It was a selfish era to get richer while the child and cheap labor suffers.

He re-affirms his thoughts by asking out loud the questions that keep running through his mind, while listening to the cries of the oppressed.  And then states his conclusion that, “It is a land of poverty!”

The environment seems as if it were winter all year round, the dark days with little to no light.  Because of the cold in this region, there is no growth of any kind, so it is bare in the fields.  With the Industrialist or Rich using all labor to do their work there is no food for the average family.  The farmers are over taxed, trying to survive, they go into the larger cities to make a living.  This leaves the fields and farms bare and people starving.  With no one traveling back and forth with goods, "And their ways are filled up with thorns." 

Blake is stating the contrast between the period they are in and what it should be like.   Where there is sunshine and rain, there should be no hungry babies, no poverty and no fear or dismay.  Where there is sunshine and rain; the vegetation, fruits and grains will grow, food will be abundant so therefore no hunger, "Nor poverty the mind appall."  It is as if, he is saying a prayer for the oppressed.

In the two poems by Blake "Holy Thursday" he sees the religious injustice and the social injustice. The social injustice is more prevalent in the "Songs of Experience - Holy Thursday" where as in the “Holy Thursday – Songs of Innocence” is more of a religious injustice.  Since he wrote Songs of Innocence first the title “Holy Thursday” came from the last supper of Jesus with his disciples.  He speaks of the rich and fruitful, babes reduced to misery, fed by the cold and usurious hand.  The lack of food and the field bare, it seems as if it is winter eternally. Farmers grow no crops during the winter season the days are short with little to no light, therefore no warmth for the plants to grow.  However, he knows where the sun shines, where there is rain, there is also no hunger. People there do not know of poverty and they have no fear.  Looking forward to the day when all things are fruitful once more!

Works Cited:

1.       Video by Poetry Re-Incarnations

2.       Wikipedia – The free Encyclopedia on the web. Using Robert F. Gleckner’s point of view.

3.       Yahoo – by Aliqnka Polanco

4.       Yale - New Havens Teachers Institute by Joseph A. Montaga