Manacle In London

William Blake, during the 18th Century wrote London a poem that depicts the harsh realities of the English Monarchy during the late 18th Century. William Blake through his work tries to create how the people of London our trapped within themselves and society. One word, manacle, in particular that based on the literal, alternative and obsolete meaning can changed the meaning of the poem. Blake use of word is extraordinary because London is written in such a simplistic manner but the message that is presented is crucial to society. William Blake in his poem, London does an excellent job using diction to depict the realities of the monarchy during the 18th Century. In the first stanza, Blake talks about the walking through the “chartered streets”

This becomes even more evident when Blake writes in the third stanza “hapless soldiers… runs in blood down palace walls” (lines 10-11). This accomplishes how many soldiers have killed or been killed for the monarchy. These ideas in the poem establish the harsh realities of the monarchy. Blake wants to make it evident that the people are trapped in a prison world. The word manacle plays a crucial role in the poem. According to Oxford English Dictionary, manacle could mean three things. Today a manacle refers to a fetter for the hand or a shackle. Also, manacle means a bond or a restraint (OED, 2015). The Oxford English Dictionary quotes Blake for the use of this meaning in his poem. The dictionary presents one more meaning of manacle or a tether/shackle for a horse. This meaning is shown to be obsolete and the last known use of it was the 17th Century. The word manacle dates as far back as the 14th Century. Blake’s use of this word is crucial in understanding the true meaning of the poem. Blake says, “The mind-forged manacles I hear”, signifies a sort of prison created by the people of London. The literal meaning creates a prison where the people are trapped in a place where they cannot advance in life