Understanding ideas of power and corruption in Blake's 'London'

Blake’s poem ‘London’ is a condemnation of the inequality and oppression that pervaded society in 18th century London. 'London' is taken from Blake's‘ Songs of Innocence and Experience’, which investigates how society corrupts innocence. Blake was critical of social inequality created by institutions: the Church, Government and the Monarchy. In the poem, Blake highlights the effects of the inaction of greedy and selfish leaders on the vulnerable. Blake was a radical, inspired by the French Revolution to warn about the restrictions on freedom and imagination.