What are “the mind forged manacles"? (MEG 102) (Songs of Experience: Study of Some Poems)

"The mind-forged manacles" is a phrase used by William Blake in his poem "London" to refer to the psychological chains that bind individuals and prevent them from realizing their full potential. The phrase represents the idea that people are constrained not only by physical circumstances but also by mental and emotional limitations that are imposed by society, culture, and tradition. The image of "mind-forged manacles" suggests that these limitations are not natural or inevitable but are created by human thought and belief systems. The poem "London" depicts the psychological and emotional suffering of the poor and marginalized in the urban environment of London during the Industrial Revolution, where social and economic conditions imposed upon people's lives could be oppressive and dehumanizing.