Give a detailed explanation of the poem titled Holy Thursday highlighting the life of orphaned children.
Q1. Give a detailed explanation of the poem titled Holy Thursday highlighting the life of orphaned children.
Answer: Holy Thursday is a famous poem written by Blake in 1789 in his book Songs of Innocence. It represents a ceremony known as Ascension Day in England, in remembrance of when Jesus Christ’s enemies crucified him and also the betrayal of his close friend. This day is celebrated among Christians to remember Christ. The poet is describing the events taking place on this particular day, and how orphans sing in front of the audience to get donations for them.
The events of the poem took place on Holy Thursday. It is the Thursday before Easter, hence the name. The poet says that on Holy Thursday, the children of the orphanage were dressed up to march toward the church, to attract attention and gather charity. The innocent faces of the children were clean and they were wearing bright colors as they marched in perfect order. Red, blue and green are also the main colors, which merge to form a whole spectrum of other colors, so it can also mean that the children were dressed in all colors.
The poet is also directing the reader’s mind toward the fact that these children are not always like this. They are tidied up, especially for this march, to gain attention and charity. On normal days, beadles do not care for them much.
Poet tells us how the old beadles walk in front of the orphans, with wands as white as snow in their hands. It means that they are directing children along the road with sticks and as the snow is cold; their authority is strict and cold. The children are moving as swiftly and in order towards the church as the river Thomas flows. The last line can also be directed towards the beadles, that they were stiff towards orphans outside, but as soon as they entered the church, became swift like a river.
The poet is trying to point out the deceiving appearances of people. Just as other people act a certain way to gain their interests, the beadles are pretending to be nice to children to get charity.
In the next lines, the poet narrates that now when the children are inside the church, and seated, they look like beautiful flowers, gathered from all around London. The poet is comparing the children with flowers as both are beautiful but fragile and short-lived. The condition in which the children are right now is temporary. As soon as the ceremony ends, they will return to their orphanage, and live the same miserable life that an orphan can. The poet has again created a beautiful picture but with a bitter undertone. The poet also says that now that children are sitting by themselves, and not guided by wands, they are glowing in each other’s company. This glow is not due to any outside influences, but because of the purity of these innocent souls.
The poet also compares the children with lambs. The children are raising their small hands in prayer as they are sitting in the church, in front of the divine. The poet is trying to express the idea that, as lambs are innocent and harmless, these children are also pure, and so are loved by the divine.
when they start to sing, their voices rise up high and reach the heavens. The small little lambs, which seem meek, hold the power to shake the heavens when they call upon the divine. Singing, these children have turned into a mighty wind that is bringing with it thunder and is shaking everyone’s hearts. All this has made everyone else seem so small and worthless as compared to these pure souls. Their guardians and other old and wise people are moved by this act and will now offer charity and compassion for these children. Poet here uses wise ironically because if these people were actually wise, they would not wait for a whole year to hear children sing and then help them in return. A wise person would have given poor orphans charity and love regardless.
In the last line of the Holy Thursday, the poet is giving the message to practice pity. He says that you are giving charity to these kids right now, but what would be your response if one of them showed up at your door begging? Why can you not be kind and have pity in your heart for these angels all year round? Why only on this day? Why only after being touched by their singing?
in this poem, The poet indirectly provokes and makes people realize their wrong behavior towards orphans and the poor, raising all these questions. Blake is teaching us that if a child has come to us in need, the least we can do is to show them pity and treat them with love.
