The Chimney Sweeper

By William Blake

William Blake (1757-1827) was an English poet, painter, and visionary, whose work combines profound spiritual themes with intense, often mystical imagery. Blake’s unique style blends poetry and visual art, making him a pioneer figure in Romantic literature and art. His work, though underappreciated in his lifetime, is now celebrated for its originality and depth. The poem was first published in William Blake’s collection of poems “Songs of Experience” in 1794. It is a sister poem of the same name which appeared in “Songs of Innocence”. It is a sort of update on the plight of the chimney sweeper-a young boy forced to do the horrible work of cleaning the chimney. Unlike the first poem, this job of sweeping can take no solace in organized religion. He is too much covered in soot and is barely recognizable. He has been a victim of oppression by society and has been robbed of his youthful happiness.

A little black thing among the snow,
Crying ‘weep! ‘weep! ‘ in notes of woe!
‘Where are thy father and mother? say? ‘
‘They are both gone up to the church to pray.

Because I was happy upon the heath,
And smil’d among the winter’s snow,
They clothed me in the clothes of death,
And taught me to sing the notes of woe.

And because I am happy and dance and sing,
They think they have done me no injury,
And are gone to praise God and his Priest and King,
Who make up a heaven of our misery.’

First Stanza

The poem opens with a stark contrast between a “a little black thing” (the chimney sweeper) and the snow, symbolizing purity and innocence. The “black thing” represents the child covered in soot, highlighting the harsh reality of child labour. The child’s cry of “weep! ‘weep!” mimics the sound of sweeping but also reflects their sorrow. When asked about his parents, the child replies that they are at church, indicating a neglectful attitude masked by piety. This critique suggests that societal and religious institutions ignore the suffering of the vulnerable while maintaining a facade of righteousness.

Second Stanza

In this stanza, the child reflects on a time when he was happy and free, playing outside. The “heath” represents a natural, carefree environment, and “smiled among the winter’s snow” indicates joy despite harsh conditions. However, this happiness was taken away when he was forced into the chimney sweeper’s life, symbolized by being “clothed in the clothes of death.” This phrase refers to the dark, soot-covered garments and the life-threatening work conditions. The “notes of woe” refer to the songs of lamentation he has learned, highlighting his transformation from a carefree child to a suffering labourer.

Third Stanza

In the final stanza, the child ironically states that his parents and society believe that because he can still “dance & sing,” he is not harmed by his circumstances. This irony underlines the misunderstanding or wilful ignorance of his true suffering. The parents’ devotion to praising God, the Priest, and the King, who uphold the social structure causing the child’s misery, is a sharp critique of religious and political institutions. The phrase “make up a heaven of our misery” suggests that the comfort and security enjoyed by the privileged are built upon the exploitation and suffering of the vulnerable, creating a false sense of righteousness and moral blindness.

Conclusion

Overall, the poem exposes the hypocrisy of a society that condones child labour and suffering under the guise of religious and moral duty. Blake uses stark imagery and irony to criticize both the exploitation of children and the societal structures that perpetuate such injustices. The poem contrasts innocence and experience, highlighting the loss of innocence and the harsh reality faced by the chimney sweepers.