Blake and Betjeman are indeed both critics of their society. Through their poetry, we are able to gain a clear insight into their perspectives on issues that were prevalent in their society.

In Blake's poem, "The Chimney Sweeper", we witness his social critique at its best. Blake wrote this poem during a period in which we know that children were used as chimney sweeps because of their suitability for the task (i.e. they were small enough o crawl up the chimneys). By the end of the poem, Tom Dacre is `happy and warm', but we as readers are left questioning the injustice that faces the young chimney sweep. He is a victim of his own innocence and in reality, he is clearly being exploited.

The line `If you are a good boy' suggests that if the sweep does as he is told and subjects himself to this...