London, 1802, and the Meaning of “She”

Early into the poem, England is mentioned. This is a clear parallel stemming from the title, for London is the capital of England. In the same line of the poem however, the pronoun “she” is used to refer to the proper noun “England.” This sets up the basis for understanding the context behind the use of this pronoun later in the poem. The author grieves over the current state of England’s citizens, and wishes that the deceased poet Milton were still alive, for the characteristics Wordsworth believes Milton embodied are those that he feels are missing from England at the time. The sestet of the piece concludes by stating that Milton ultimately remained humble about the way he was, and never felt as though anyone owed him anything in return, especially England. This is where the pronoun “herself” is mentioned, in which Wordsworth is clearly referencing the entire focus of the piece: England.