The Portrayal of the Working Class’s Suffering during the Industrial Revolution in Blake’s the Chimney Sweeper a Marxist Analysis

Abstract

This study examines William Blake's poem "The Chimney Sweeper" from a Marxist perspective, focusing on the portrayal of the working class's suffering during the Industrial Revolution. The research employs Marxist criticism as its methodology, while also utilizing figurative language analysis, including symbols, metaphors, irony, and hyperbole, to delve into the poem's meaning. By applying Marxist class theory, the study aims to gain a deeper understanding of the factors that perpetuated the suffering of the proletariat during this historical period. The findings indicate that figurative language, such as symbols, metaphors, irony, and hyperbole, effectively depict the working class's hardships during the Industrial Revolution. The poem employs the symbol of an "Angel" to represent the religious institution's complicity in suppressing the working class. Metaphors are employed to illustrate the perilous working conditions experienced by the proletariat. Irony is used to highlight the mistreatment and dismissive attitudes towards the working class. Hyperbole is utilized to emphasize the chimney sweepers' jubilation upon their liberation by an Angel. Furthermore, the study reveals that several factors contributed to the working class remaining in a state of oppression during the Industrial Revolution, including government support for the upper class, class divisions, and propaganda.