he men are calling out. Cry can also be seen in its obvious use as in sadness or weeping (cry). The word “every” (5-7) is repeated throughout the second stanza. “Every” (5-7) is used to place an emphasis on the occurrence of the happenings in this stanza. The speaker sees in “every” “man,” “voice,” and “ban” “mind-forged manacles” (5-8). Manacles by definition are handcuffs, Blake uses the handcuffs to symbolize a restraint (Manacle). In the “cry of every man” (5) and in “every Infant’s cry of fear” (6) the speaker see restraints. He also sees restraint in bans. A ban is something that is prohibited which is similar to a restraint (Ban). A Banner though is a sign or advertisements seen in public places (Banner). These banners according to the poem contain some form of restraint. Everywhere in London the speaker sees restraints.It is the chimney-sweepers who are crying in the third stanza. Homes were heated and Industry was fueled by coal in London during this time period. Because of the dirty nature of burning coal the air was heavily polluted resulting in the “London Fogs,” and chimneys were always in need of cleaning (History). Chimney-sweepers, who were usually young children, had the difficult, dirty, and hazardous job of crawling into and cleaning the creosol and residue filled chimneys of the city. The children fear the terrible life of being a chimney-sweeper, possibly a link to the “Infants cry of fear” (6) from the previous stanza, this is part of the information we get from the streets.Coal dirt, residue, and creosol are part of what contributes to “Every blackening Church appals;” (10). The pollution from the coal is “blackening” (10) the exterior of the white church. The “blackening church” (10) has a much more powerful meaning to poem th...
