Posted by kottenstroetter on February 18, 19103 at 11:14:45:

In Reply to: Re: London posted by Emmeline, Savannah, GA, USA on December 04, 19102 at 22:39:43:

: : : What is the interpretation of the poem "LONDON" by William Blake?

: : I am in the midst of writing a paper on this and another poem of Blake's, and thought I might add a little insight on the last stanza. This may have already been commented on in previous postings, but I haven't time to read them all so here are my thoughts regardless.
: Perhaps the "youthful Harlot's curse" is syphilis. This would explain why it "blasts the new born Infant's tear"- syphilis causes blindness in babies born to infected mothers. Also, the words "blast", "blight", and "plague" are all synonymous with disease. In fact, I believe all three are plant diseases. The last line- "And blights with plagues the Marriage hearse." Carrying my thought through, I think this simply means that the prostitute's customers will become infected and carry the disease into their marriages. Syphilis being a fatal disease, this turns the institution of marriage into carriage for disease and then death. Hope you found this helpful...

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