Romanticism in The Lamb and London - Essay Example

The poem ' The Lamb' is very simple to understand but shows poet's immense faith and understanding of the nature and the almighty. The poem is the dialogue between the poet and the lamb. In the first few stanzas the poets asks lamb, "Does thou know who made thee." He wants to make it known to him that he is not made by any human being nor himself makes him, rather he is the part of the nature. Then he tells that he is made by the being that is also called by the same name as "The Lamb." Similarly he clarifies further that the other things, which he get, like the feed, soft woolen clothing and the tender voice, are also all given by the same person, who by nature is meek and mild.

This being is also the child. Then the poet says he himself is also a child and he is also created by created by him as he says, "We are all called by his name." The poet feels that the lamb, his possessions and everybody else are the part of the nature and created by the almighty. He also says that we are part of almighty, in that sense the nature and the almighty are one and the same thing. "London" is a very different type of poem. It reflects two things: one the prevailing atmosphere in London at that time and 2) the poets mood and attitude towards the life during that phase of life.

It's a sorrowful poem. He begins by saying that not only the streets but also the river in London is chartered (not free to the ordinary people). He says whomever he comes across shows the marks of weakness and woes. And "every" man, infant is suffering; there is a voice of the cry, sorrow in the whole atmosphere. Then by giving the example of "chimney-sweepers" he says the church has failed to help the needy. Then the poet brings the woes of the soldiers who have no option but fight for the country and sacrifice them.

Then there is sudden turn when poet brings out the fact that youth's mistake gives birth to illegitimate child who are abandoned by the society.The Lamb: Let us consider the various quotes:1) Does thou know who made thee: There is general feeling in the society that "I' am" the creator of everything. Humans not only have the feeling of being creator of materialistic things but also of the natural things like the plants, the animals and even the human beings. This is what the poet wants to make the lamb aware of, as to who has made him and indirectly he also wants the humans to know who actually their real creator is.

The lamb here is innocent animal that is unaware of the worldly facts. Similarly the humans are also considered by the poet to be innocent creatures who are unaware of the same facts. Now just as the good teacher would teach his pupil with full love and compassion similarly by giving the metaphor of the lamb the poet wants to teach the humans, as to who is their creator, creator of the world. All the fights that occur are due to the egos and the misunderstandings of "me" and "mine." He knows that when the humans will know who the real creator is their egos will dissolve and love amongst them will prevail.

That's why the poet asks the lamb "who made thee" so as to make aware the lamb and indirectly people to know who actually is the real creator. 2) Gave thee such tender voice: The little lamb has a soft tender voice. Now this innocent lamb may develop the feeling that it is his own or he may feel that he himself has made it and was supposed to use it only for the personal purposes. The poet wants to again make him aware that