It can be concluded that Blake was not satisfied in the society he lived in. In “London”, Blake describes a bleak and desolate city using descriptions like and mark in every face I meet Marks of weakness, marks of woe.” Blake is criticizing London and how its citizens seem to be in pain. Maybe he attributes this to religion? In the third poem, he describes a child weeping, crying for its parents. Instead of finding the solution to the child’s woes, the parents attempt to pray the woes away which does not work. It can be said that Blake was not the biggest proponent of religion.
2 thoughts on “How is his work a commentary on the mores, religious temperament, and society in which he lived in late eighteenth century England? What aspects of this commentary are still relevant today?”
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I agree with your response to Blake’s poems. He does a good job of describing the horrible things in his society and that people look to religion for an answer. Like you mention in the last poem, there is a kid being left to suffer while the parents pray. I think Blake is trying to show that religion can’t be an escape for misery, therefore not really having faith in any religious beliefs.
I agree with your response the part regarding Blake and his stance towards religion. He is indeed showcasing how couples and people as a whole actually tend to look everywhere for answers except at themselves. This comes back to your first point that Blake in fact is not satisfied with the society that he lives in.