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Songs of innocence and experience6/24/2023 Considering that the Songs were written during the Industrial Revolution, and many children were subjected to abuse and child labor, it’s very possible that the child on the cloud is the piper’s muse, who helps him understand that he must be the voice of those who cannot speak for themselves: the deceased, the lower class, the children, and those more who were struggling due to the Industrial Revolution. Starting with Introduction, there are many possible interpretations of this poem. Many of the Songs are written in pairs, thus the problems are seen in two different lenses: one through the innocence of childhood, and then the experience of adulthood. These poems collocate the innocence of childhood against the world of adulthood, a world full of repression and corruption. Despite its simple images of children, flowers, animals, and an off-putting “happy” vibe, the Songs are troubling and reflect Blake’s deeply held personal and spiritual beliefs. Together, Blake explores ‘the two contrary states of the human soul,’ as he had put in the subtitle. Songs of Innocence and Experience is a collection of poems by William Blake, published in 1789.
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