![]() However, despite the harsh realities that Blake depicts in his poems, he ultimately offers a hopeful message in Songs of Innocence. ![]() In poems such as "The Chimney Sweeper" and "The Little Black Boy," Blake exposes the cruel and exploitative practices that children were subjected to in 18th-century England, and laments the loss of innocence that results from such experiences. This contrast between the natural and the artificial is a recurring theme throughout the collection, as Blake explores the ways in which society and its institutions corrupt the innate goodness and innocence of the individual. ![]() In contrast, the artificial world of man is depicted as a place of "tears" and "groans," where the "tiger" and the "dove" are locked in an eternal struggle. He describes the natural world as a place of "merry fields" and "innocent play," where the "lamb" and the "infant" frolic freely. In the introduction to Songs of Innocence, Blake sets the tone for the collection by presenting the reader with a contrast between the natural world and the artificial world of man. The collection is notable for its celebration of childhood and the natural world, as well as its exploration of themes such as innocence, experience, and the corrupting influence of society. ![]() Songs of Innocence is a collection of poems by William Blake, first published in 1789. ![]()
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