Poetry Analysis: "The Chimney Sweeper"

“The Chimney Sweeper,” by William Blake is about boys who are sold into a form of slavery to work as chimney sweepers. The speaker in the poem is a chimney sweeper as well, but he seems to be more headstrong than Tom Dacre, whom the poet describes through Tom’s dream. Tom’s dream is about himself and other little boys locked in coffins but then released by an angel. They “rise upon clouds,” and Tom has the prospect of “God for his father,” and when Tom awakes feeling “happy and warm.” I think it is sad and somewhat disturbing that Tom is happy when he wakes because it is obvious he just dreamt of heaven. I interpreted that Tom was looking forward to Heaven, which no little boy should ever be anxiously awaiting.