This poem addresses the conflict between social morality towards child labor and the realization that the elite have influenced societies ways. As the original speaker in the poem sees something black in the snow and approaches the object, it turns out to be a young chimneysweeper crying all alone. Once the speaker has approached the cries, the poem then transitions to a different speaker who is the young chimneysweeper expressing their perception towards their situation, which is being involved in child labor and how the sweepers parents along with a prominent source such as “God, Priest & Kings” (12). bypass the morality of forced labor on the young. In the first quatrain stanza it introduces dialogue between the original speaker and the sweeper. You can see there is dialogue approaching because of the punctuations and quotations used within the stanza. Not only does the punctuation give the reader the idea that another person is involved, but the traditional rhyme scheme AA, BB in the first stanza makes the conversation flow smoothly. The first stanza is the only stanza with rhyming couplets that pairs the two speakers together identifying that both lines back to back is the same person speaking. “A little black thing among the snow / Crying ‘ weep, ‘weep,” in notes of woe!” (1-2). The first two lines show the rhyming couplet as the same speaker. The original speaker who has come across the young child is concerned. “Where are thy father & mother? Say?”/ “They are both
Throughout history, children have always worked, either as apprentices or servants. However, child labor reached a whole new scale during the time period of the Industrial Revolution. Throughout the time frame of late 1800s-early 1900s, children worked long hours in dangerous factory conditions for very little wages. They were considered useful as laborers because their small stature allowed them to be cramped into smaller spaces, and they could be paid less for their services. Many worked to help support their families, and by doing so, they forwent their education. Numerous nineteenth century reformers and labor groups sought to restrict child labor and to improve working conditions.
During the 18 and beginning of the 19th century in certain regions of the U.S child labor made up more than 40 percent of the population (Wolensky). That’s almost half of the working population. Since the beginning of time children have always been known to help their families with domestic tasks. Most of these kids worked in factories because they were easy to control and paid less than adults. Kids earned less than half of what adults made in the work force. In these factories they usually cleaned under and inside machines while functioning because of their small size.. That’s how these kids felt as it was described in a article in our history book. They were always in danger of getting hurt or even dying, which many did. Kids as young
Child labor laws have been put in place to protect children who desire to work. During the time of the Industrial Revolution, children were being treated harsh and unfairly. Because of this, it was decided to put in place certain laws to avoid the unfair treatment of these children. These laws include a limitation of age, hours and days worked, and the amount paid. These labor laws are very important to the safety of the working children in our nation.
In the words of an anonymous working class American female, as depicted in Steven L.
Children have been exploited as servants and apprentices throughout most of history. But child labor hit new extremes during the Industrial Revolution. They worked long hours in dangerous factories for very little money. Child labor was useful because of childrens sizes they were able to move through small places in factories or mines that adults could not fit in. Children often worked to support their families. In the 19th century reformers sought to restrict child labor. During the Great Depression, Americans wanted jobs to go to adults instead of children. In colonial times child labor was not subject to controversy it was part of the agricultural economy. Children worked on their family farms but were also hired on other farms.
During the Industrial Revolution and in the Romantic Period, child labor was very common for most of the children that lived during that time. Many of the families were very poor and needed all the extra money that they could get. Children were sent to work in various workplaces such as factories, mines, and even mills. The children received little or no pay from their jobs. The workplaces required extremely long work hours usually from sun up to sun down with very few breaks in between. Most children also received very harsh treatment if they slacked off of their work. The owners of the companies gave little or no attention to the children. They wanted the production to be made each day no matter how hard it was on them.
The Industrial Revolution was a time period during the late 1800s. Throughout this time, countries like Great Britain saw great advancements in technology and rapid growth of factories.
In the United States the idea of child labor is now unimaginable. However the reality was a different one during the Industrial Revolution. Most of the workers in factories were children and women. However children were prefered because of one important factor and that is that they could be paid less by their employer. Children made up 20% of the work force were often sent out to work to help support their families.
Child labor during the Industrial Revolution was a tragic event that impacted lives of many families.During this time of history not only would the parents work to help provide for the family, but children were expected to work in order to keep the family above bankruptcy. Punishments and injuries were a big factor that took place as the children would work in the factories or on the farms. Sadly, factory owners took advantage of the children and treated them unfairly. During the Industrial Revolution, child labor had a huge impact on society.
Although children had been servants and apprentices throughout most of human history, child labor reached new extremes during the Industrial Revolution.There was a big impact on the daily life of a child labourer as poor children often worked full time jobs with minimal pay in order to help support their families. Young children worked long hours in factories under dangerous conditions. children were easier to manage and control than adults because their size was perfect as it allowed them to move in small spaces in factories or mines.The practice of child labor continued throughout much of the Industrial Revolution until laws were eventually passed that made child labor illegal.
Throughout world history their have been and are many occurrences of society corruption and oppression of masses, such as the forcing of small children to sweep chimneys. Thus, William Blake’s Purpose in writing the two “The Chimney Sweeper” poems was to express his outrage at society for having oppressed and stolen the innocence of powerless children in forcing them to sweep. Both poems are similar in that he uses the actions and view point of the child speaker to express his rage against society, mostly through his verbal irony. However, the poems distinct in that one shares the view point of an innocent child who hasn’t yet fully experienced the corruption of society , whereas the other one is one of a more experienced child who
Firstly, I’ll look at The Chimney Sweeper from Innocence. The poem uses the ‘A A B B’ rhyming scheme, i.e. young, tongue, weep, sleep. This makes the poem sound good when it’s read aloud. It also flows better. This pattern continues throughout. The poem is about a chimney
“The Chimney Sweeper” is a poem written by William Blake (1757 –1827). His main aim is to expose the social defects in his age and the vices which afflict his society and to confront his readers with the dreadful suffering of the working paupers. According to Blake, the chimney-sweeping life is not a life at all; the labourer children have lost their childhood, their freedom, and their innocence. He criticizes the victimisation of children and the injustice of this oppressive labour. He shows how Tom; the chimney sweeper and other children suffer from long hard labour in addition to physical and psychological abuse. Blake insists that these children are living in abject and inhumane conditions of deprivation, misery and humiliation
We have all heard that child labour is a bad thing, however, lets try and think is it, really?
"Please, sir," replied Oliver, "I want some more." No one will ever forget the simple plea made by the poor hungry little orphan named Oliver Twist. Nobody will be able to omit from his mind the painful blows that Oliver suffered. Nor will anyone cease to recall what it felt like to be young and helpless in a much bigger and stronger world. In an effort to bring the ostracized poverty situation of so many children to the public's attention, Charles Dickens wrote an unforgettable book to touch the hearts of millions. Whether he knew it then or not, he was also bringing a new connotation and worldwide innuendo to the term "child labor".