The Chimney Sweeper

The speaker does not accept the moral of Tom's dream. Blake is being ironic about whatever comforts Tom about the dream. On the surface this sounds like Tom is comforted by his dream. He thinks that if he just sweeps his chimneys and does what he is told, he will be rewarded in Heaven. Many critics think Blake is being ironic here. Tom's dream is merely a coping mechanism. Poor Tom will remain an abused child having to work in horrible conditions