Read the poem 'London' by William Blake and answer the question given below :

I wander thro' each charter'd street,
Near where the charter'd Thames does flow.
And mark in every face I meet
Marks of weakness, marks of woe.

In every cry of every Man,
In every Infants cry of fear,
In every voice: in every ban,
The mind-forg'd manacles I hear

How the Chimney-sweepers cry
Every blackning Church appalls,
And the hapless Soldiers sigh
Runs in blood down Palace walls

But most thro' midnight streets I hear
How the youthful Harlots curse
Blasts the new-born Infants tear
And blights with plagues the Marriage hearse

Which of the following does not distress the poet ?

Question

Read the poem 'London' by William Blake and answer the question given below :

I wander thro' each charter'd street,
Near where the charter'd Thames does flow. 
And mark in every face I meet
Marks of weakness, marks of woe.

In every cry of every Man,
In every Infants cry of fear,
In every voice: in every ban,
The mind-forg'd manacles I hear

How the Chimney-sweepers cry
Every blackning Church appalls, 
And the hapless Soldiers sigh
Runs in blood down Palace walls

But most thro' midnight streets I hear
How the youthful Harlots curse
Blasts the new-born Infants tear 
And blights with plagues the Marriage hearse

Which of the following does not distress the poet ?

Accepted Answer

Here's a detailed explanation supporting why Option 2, "Symbols of Culture," is the correct answer, and why the other options are incorrect, based on the poem "London" by William Blake:

**Why Option 2: Symbols of Culture is Correct**

The poem "London" is a critique of societal ills and the oppressive forces at play in the city. While the poem mentions institutions and structures, it's not the *symbols* of culture themselves that distress the poet, but rather the *corruption* and *exploitation* associated with them. The poem focuses on how these institutions *fail* to live up to their intended cultural and societal roles, leading to suffering. The poet is distressed by the *reality* behind the symbols, not the symbols themselves. For example, the "Church" is mentioned, but it's the "blackning" of the Church, its moral decay and complicity in societal problems, that is distressing, not the symbol of the Church itself. The "Palace walls" are mentioned, but it's the blood of the soldiers, representing the cost of war and oppression, that runs down them, not the palace as a symbol of royalty. Therefore, the poet's distress stems from the *abuse* and *perversion* of cultural institutions, not the symbols themselves.

**Why the Other Options are Incorrect:**

*   **Option 1: Child Labour:** The poem explicitly mentions "Chimney-sweepers cry." This directly refers to the exploitation of children in dangerous labor, a major source of distress for the poet. The line "Every blackning Church appalls" is linked to the chimney sweepers, suggesting the Church's complicity in allowing this exploitation to continue. Therefore, child labor *does* distress the poet.

*   **Option 3: Prostitution:** The poem includes the line "How the youthful Harlots curse / Blasts the new-born Infants tear." This clearly indicates the poet's distress at the prevalence of prostitution and its devastating consequences, including the spread of disease ("plagues") and the destruction of innocence. The "Marriage hearse" further emphasizes the corruption of societal institutions and the tragic consequences of prostitution. Therefore, prostitution *does* distress the poet.

*   **Option 4: Irresponsible government and Church:** The poem is saturated with criticism of irresponsible governance and the Church. The "charter'd" streets and Thames suggest a system of control and ownership that benefits the powerful at the expense of the vulnerable. The "mind-forg'd manacles" imply that people are trapped by societal structures and ideologies. The "hapless Soldiers sigh / Runs in blood down Palace walls" is a direct indictment of the government's role in war and oppression. The "blackning Church" represents the Church's failure to uphold its moral responsibilities. Therefore, irresponsible government and the Church *do* distress the poet.

In conclusion, while the poem mentions institutions that are part of culture, the poet's distress is not caused by the *symbols* of culture themselves, but by the *corruption* and *suffering* associated with them. The other options directly reflect elements of societal decay that the poet explicitly expresses distress about in the poem.