Finally, after exposing corruption in London via the poem’s imagery, and metaphors, Blake uses symbolism is to introduce inflammatory themes into the poem. He does this to provoke outrage within the general public, with the hopes that it will shock people out of complacency and blind loyalty; ideally inspiring some type of action that will bring about social reforms that will “right the ship”. In the first stanza, Blake uses symbolism to introduce a theme of oppression; Blake writes―“And mark in every face I meet” (line 3), “Marks of weakness, marks of woe” (line 4). Blake uses the word mark to symbolize the loss of freedom accompanies living in poverty, because in Blake’s time, slaves wear the mark of their master. In what manner are these
