Close Reading: the Little Black Boy by William Blake

With the release of Songs of Innocence and Songs of Experience, William Blake undoubtedly pushed boundaries of societal constraints in his time period. Through his poetry, Blake stirred up controversy by exposing what he believed to be flaws in the human culture. Specifically, in The Little Black Boy, he reveals the exploited innocence of neglected and enslaved children, while also reflecting his views of human nature, including his belief in equality. His use of many literary devices such as similes, metaphors and allusions helped adapt his writing to produce an accurate depiction of what life was like for African-American slaves in the time period.

Blake wrote The Little Black Boy through the eyes of a black child born into slavery, who dreams that all humans could be equal and for his master to love him. In the first stanza, the boy grapples with his situation that he did not choose for himself. He says, “And I am black, but O! my soul is white” (1-2). Blake is using imagery to give deeper meaning to the colors black and white. The term “white” is used to refer to the color of skin the boy wishes to have, as well as a reflection of his innocence and naiveté. He is arguing that although he is black on the outside, his "soul" is actually white. He goes on to say, “White as an angel is the English child, /But I am black as if bereaved of light" (3-4). The simile, “White as an angel” suggests Blake is comparing the boy’s heart to the pureness of an angel. The boy recognizes the only difference between him and the English child is the color of their skin. But at a young age, he has already been taught that the color of your skin is what determines if a person is superior or inferior, good or evil. He believes if you are “bereaved of light” in your complexion, you lack God’s love and approval.

As the poem continues, it is apparent to the reader that Blake is trying to highlight the hypocrisy of society’s beliefs regarding equality using metaphors and imagery. In...