Introduction: “Holy Thursday”
Although childhood as in “Holy Thursday” is considered angelic in almost every civilization whether it is Grecian, Roman, or Islamic, it has a special association with the figure of Christ and his saints. Not only is it considered innocence par excellent but also considered as a source of innocence emerging from everything that comes in contact with the children. However, “Holy Thursday” by William Blake compares the childhood of the charity-fed children in a way that it starkly contrasts with the old age of their guardians, not only demonstrating their hypocritical and selfish intentions but also uncovering the superficial preaching shibboleths they harbor in their hearts. Although Blake has reserved two stanzas for displaying the innocence of the children through excellent similes, his last stanza, and specifically the last line, exposes the irony of the contrast he wants to show. In fact, this is not a simple contrast between children with their guardians but the contrast between childhood and its innocence to old age and the wisdom achieved with it. Not only does he highlight this irony in “The Holy Thursday” by showing forced discipline imposed on the children, but he also does it by shedding light on their pure innocence and stressing upon the old age of their guardians in comparison to their innocence.
Discipline in “Holy Thursday”
Blake takes the clue of forced discipline in “Holy Thursday” from the very first line, showing that the faces of the innocent children are “clean” on this “holiday Thursday” (Blake 1), clearly demonstrating the hidden meaning that it is not done on any other day. As more people would be attending the church on this holy occasion, they would win appreciation for the charity and the preaching they have done to the children. They have taught them discipline in a way that they come to the St. Paul like “Thames waters flow” (4) but yet this discipline imposed on them has not marred their freshness as they are still “flowers of London” (5) where several others like them are roaming in the streets. Though these two techniques rather emphasize their spontaneity, the discipline of the first two lines “walking in two and two, in red and blue and green” (2) is enough to show what has been done to them. This is a clear reference to the wisdom that the guardians of those children have displayed. They have taught them this discipline.
Innocence in “Holy Thursday”
Despite this, as shown in the very first stanza of “Holy Thursday,”, Blake has not kept their innocence in check. He has rather highlighted it further through his comparison with flowers and lambs. Flowers are the symbols of freshness. A person, having committed no sin in his life, often radiates such freshness. The same freshness radiates on the faces of these charity-fed children, who are queuing up to enter the St. Paul under the supervision of these guardians. This is the radiance of their own which is the only account of their innocence. The innocence is not only coming out from their “innocent faces” (1) but also from their “innocent hands” (8) which has been further reinforced by their comparison to lambs – a specific Christian symbol of innocence. The innocence of Christ is often compared with a lamb. The freshness and innocence further strengthen their image as being angelic and too pure to commit a wrong or sin. When this moves to the next lines where it has been told that their guardians are sitting beneath them, it becomes a stark irony.
Old Age in “Holy Thursday”
The final comparison is with the old age of the guardians. It is not merely old age in comparison to childhood that is paled; rather, it is the comparison of innocence and wisdom. The wisdom lies in “grey bearded beadles” (1) who are walking in front of the children with “wands as white as snow” (2) in their hands. Their ironic motto is to help everyone “lest you drive an angel from your door” (12) and cherish pity to win the favor of God. However, here, the way the children have been made or rather forced to be in discipline is not what they say “cherish pity” (12). Instead of this, it is to show off the people how wise they are, how they are winning the favors of God by making the children sing for Heaven. Despite their best efforts, they are to set “beneath” (11) the children. This is clearly showing that innocence is dearer to God than this wisdom, which is more showy and artificial. The ulterior motives are very much clear from this comparison that the song of the children is harmonious, reaching Heaven, but the “wise guardians of the poor” (12) are sitting beneath them.
Irony in “Holy Thursday”
The main irony in “Holy Thursday” lies in the fact that they are feeding the poor children, while they themselves are feeding on the charity given to the church. However, they teach the people they should not drive the poor away from their door, as they are angels, and they are doing the same by taking care of these children. Their preaching does not tell them that the angels they are advising not to be driven away are living with them. They are taking care of them but still, they are forcing harsh discipline on them, making them become a show for the public just to win the sympathies of the same people for taking care of the orphans and destitute. That is why their age has been paled in comparison to the innocence of the children Blake has emphasized through different literary techniques.
Works Cited
- Blake, William. “Holy Thursday.” n.d. Poetry Foundation. Web. Accessed 21 Feb. 2015.
Relevant Questions about “Holy Thursday” by William Blake: An Irony on Wisdom of Age
- How does William Blake use irony in “Holy Thursday” to comment on the supposed wisdom of age and the treatment of impoverished children during the time the poem was written?
- What are the symbolic elements in “Holy Thursday” that highlight the innocence and vulnerability of the children as compared to the seemingly wise and benevolent charity of the adult figures in the poem?
- How does the structure and tone of “Holy Thursday” change from the “Innocence” version of the poem to the “Experience” version, and what does this shift reveal about Blake’s perspective on the societal treatment of children and the elderly?
