an just pollution though. It is a symbol for the restraint the speaker saw men cry for, children fear, and heard in the voices of the people of London. The church blackens its members (including the chimney-sweepers) by restraining and forcing them to follow, adhere, and comply to the churches beliefs and values. The church follows a uniform single style that is repetitious, dull and boring. Today as Americans we think of the church as a place of worship but also of guidance and help. Churches are powerful, public institutions and they have a duty to watch out for and protect members of its community. The London churches were not living up to this duty letting young children put their lives at risk cleaning chimneys.The symbol of the “blacking church” (10) is further developed in the last lines of the stanza as the “hapless Soldier’s sigh / Runs in blood down Palace walls” (11-12). The soldier unfortunate because the church, which is part of the state and therefore the Palace, is not listening to his sighs dies at battle (appals). It is an unnecessary death we can see because the soldier sighs “Runs in blood down Palace walls.” The church has again failed its members and community.In the last stanza the church is again to blame for societies problems. The speaker “hear(s)” (13) young prostitutes swearing late into the night. The Harlots are young women out late at night sleeping with men, getting diseases, having children, and then not providing a good life for the children. The “youthful Harlot’s curse” (14) is interesting because “curse” (14) means the Harlot is swearing, but it also could mean something bringing or causing harm (Curse). The “Harlots curse” we learn are the problems she brings to her child. The Harlot who most likely has syphilis a sexually transmitted disease passes it on to the child and “Blasts the ne...
