Songs of Experience: Holy Thursday 1794 - 1825

William Blake created "Holy Thursday" as part of his "Songs of Experience," using illuminated printing, a technique he developed in the late 18th century. Blake’s radical vision questioned the social and religious norms of his time, especially regarding the treatment of children and the poor. The poem is both a critique and a lament. Blake juxtaposes the Church’s charitable facade with the grim reality of impoverished children. "Is this a holy thing to see, In a rich and fruitful land, Babes reduced to misery?" Here, Blake challenges the viewer to confront the hypocrisy of a society that praises charity while ignoring the systemic causes of poverty. Blake draws attention to the lived experiences of marginalized children in England, exposing the emotional and physical toll of poverty. Blake's critique of power and the Church's failures is a visceral appeal to our shared humanity. He asks us to consider the emotional weight of social injustice.