In the poem, ‘The School Boy’ Blake makes a plea on behalf of little **** who hate the experience of going to school because of the prevalent authoritarian ways of school authorities. In the poem, we see that it is a matter of utmost disappointment for the schoolboy to attend school on a sweet summer morning when actually he wishes to enjoy the mirth of summer. He is tired and even puzzled under the strict supervision of his teacher. The phrase ‘cruel eye outworn’ refers to the authoritarian eyes of the teacher that actually tire the boy. Instead of enjoying the pleasures of summer, the child has to compulsorily attend the school where he spends his day in boredom and dismay.
Naturally, in such a set-up, the child experiences weariness. He sits drooping out in the sea of tediousness. The child resents the ** on him by the oppressive personality of the teacher and the unnecessary words of erudition the teacher gushes out without attempting to understand either the child’ intention at his urge for unchecked freedom. The learning’* bower refers to a garden where the child can be taught in an interesting way, only if nature accompanies him instead of the school teacher.
A bird which is born cheerful and jovial can never sing sweet songs if caged. Similarly, a child, if restrained under the umbrella of annoying *, tension and the scepticism of his teacher, can never enjoy the natural instincts of joy and playfulness. A world full of rigid course of discipline will ruthlessly take away the beautiful spring — the childhood days — of a person’ life. Thus, though the tone of the poem is not highly critical, Blake does make his point clear — don’t ** the joy of learning.
