BLAKE’S CHIMNEY SWEEPER POEMS: II

BLAKE’S CHIMNEY SWEEPER POEMS: II

In “Chimney Sweeper II,” the similarity lies only in the job of the boys. The atmosphere is different as the child here knows too much and is aware of things that lost him his innocence and, thus, caused him misery (according to Blake).
The child’s blackness is foregrounded against a background of white snow. Symbolically, the white snow resembles the apparent whiteness or purity of the society in which the boy lives; they snow is white but not clean as it hides dirt underneath. Unfortunately, the boy’s parents (and the rest of that city’s residents) are the same as the snow: religious but hiding dirty hearts.
A stranger’s concern triggers the boy’s experience to pop. The boy emphasizes the fact that he is attacked: he has been placed in this situation deliberately for having a positive attitude and loving life. The parents, according to the boy, have forced him into such work to steal his innocence and happiness.
Consciously or subconsciously, the parents create a monster who is angry with everyone and everything.

MORE TO DISCUSS IN THIS POEM:
1. Colour Imagery
2. Difference with “Chimney Sweeper I”
3. The features that relate “God,” “priest,” “King” and his parents together.
4. The meaning(s) of “heaven.” (in the last line)
5. The psychology of the boy (especially the negative attitude and the possible socio-phobia symptoms)