Examine Philip Larkin’s view of love and relationships expressed in his poems in The Whitsun Weddings.

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Min-Kai Lin GCSE English 6/1/02

Examine Philip Larkin’s View of Love and Relationships Expressed in His Poems in The Whitsun Weddings

        ‘The Whitsun Weddings’ published in 1964 by Larkin, made him famous. In the following poems in this essay; one sees reoccurring themes: marriage and relationships, importance (and nature) of love, the passage of time and fantasy with reality. Although not all are directly related to ‘love;’ some themes could be used to support and explain Larkin’s opinions. The content of his poems are everyday life, personal experience or memory. The language used is simple, with irony and humor, which engages the reader. However, when carefully read, one could see deeper interpretations, which reveals Larkin’s view of love.

        ‘An Arundel Tomb’ was based on an actual stone monument. The main theme in the poem is love and the impact of time on it. However, this could be interpreted as two opposing meanings. Often, as one’s ‘instinct,’ and due to the simplicity of the language: it is seen that Larkin is optimistic about love. But, after careful analysis, one finds another view of love; where it is weak.

        At first glance, the poem suggests the power of love. ‘What will survive of us is love,’ this is a strong statement. The word ‘will’ adds confidence in the prediction that love will ‘survive,’ which imply love is everlasting (beyond death), and nothing will stop it. The tomb has lasted ‘through lengths and breadths / Of time,’ which again has an emphasis on the strength of love. This phrase expresses time as an intimidating existence, yet the tomb, which represents love, is still here. There are other phrases, which suggest similar meanings, such as ‘holding her hand’ and ‘side by side,’ these convey togetherness. This gives a warm tone, which is what love is to most people.

        Despite the above, the rest of the poem suggests a sad view of love. The first stanza simply describes the tomb, but ‘their proper habits vaguely shown.’ Larkin gives a ‘faint hint’ that the true meaning of the tomb is hidden, that people do not see it. We are reminded of this later in the poem. In the second stanza, Larkin experiences a ‘sharp tender shock:’ he finds the tomb ‘absurd.’ Later in the poem, when his pessimistic views are revealing, one see the reason: the tomb (described as ‘plainness,’ showing insignificance), and their presentation of love (as seen by most people), is ‘still’ here. Larkin thought ‘they would not think to lie so long,’ here Larkin begins to show his view of love: it is fragile, and should not have endured time. There may be a pun on the word ‘lie,’ it may also indicate the fact that they have been conveying the wrong message all this time. The word ‘effigy’ hints this. Larkin reminds us there is more than meets the eye. In the third stanza, the sculptor, as first, can been seen as try to ‘prolong’ this love. This would have been the first impression on most readers. However, the ‘commissioned grace’ indicates he only working for the money. Although modern people thinks money cannot buy love, Larkin thinks it is wrong, as money was used to preserve the tomb. Here Larkin degrades the position of love.

From the fourth stanza, Larkin exposes the nature of love, that it is vulnerable to time. Passage of time is described as ‘soundless damage,’ whose effect took place ‘early.’ This implies the couple was not aware of the impact of time, it is subtle yet has tremendous effect. But, the tomb is described as traveling though a ‘stationary voyage,’ which tells us the couple, or its original meaning, has not changed. It is the ‘endless “altered” people’ who are changing their ‘identity’. Larkin thinks they have misinterpreted the tomb. They began ‘to look, not read,’ this means these people are trusting their first impressions of the tomb. The phrase ‘not read’ shows that Larkin believes thinking about the tomb more carefully, is the correct way of looking at it. This enables one to discover the truth, as Larkin has.

Stanza six reveals more of Larkin’s view. Their image is fading and turns to ‘untruth.’ The main function of this stanza is to convey the insignificance of love. This presented by using words such as ‘hollow’ (suggesting emptiness) and ‘scrap.’ They are only a small part of the past. A minor function of this stanza is to suggest the cruelty of reality, as people are ‘helpless’ about time. The final stanza sums up Larkin’s opinion. The tomb did not intend to, but has become ‘their final blazon.’ They have changed from meaningless to proclaim strength of love. This of course, is a fake. However, to Larkin, the power of love is an instinct. It is ‘almost true,’ indicating it’s false and love would not last forever, it is the visitors whom extended their love.

The poem suggests a strong sense of passage of time. The tomb can be seen as traveling from past to present; as the era changes from ‘jointed armour’ to ‘unarmorial age.’ This sets up the structure and development of the poem. Larkin used phrases to suggest this change: ‘history,’ ‘voyage,’ ‘transfigured’ and ‘altered.’ There is a jaded tone created by this. The theme of time is mainly concentrated in the fifth stanza. As a whole year’s event is described in five lines. This suggest how the ‘lengths and breadths’ (which makes time intimidating) of time can pass by so quickly. It also includes life and death, again emphasizing passage of time. This stanza has intense language and carefully formed imagery and rhythm. The use of words connecting with death and immobility, such as: ‘still,’ ‘stone,’ ‘suspended’ and ‘bone.’ The idea introduced is ending, and that love will end. Since middle of stanza four, the pace has increased, by using shorter phrases. This engages the reader to read on to the climax. The theme of time and love in this poem creates a central tension, as love struggles through time. Erosion of time is also present: ‘faces blurred.’ In fact, the whole poem is about erosion of love due to time. In the last stanza Larkin uses personification; thus making time responsible for these changes. I think this poem is effective I taking the reader to realizing the nature of love. This was done by the structure; the content develops in a logical order (traveling through time).

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Like ‘An Arundel Tomb,’ ‘The Whitsun Weddings’ was a personal experience of Larkin. Like the previous poem, it is long, and incorporates the passage of time. On the other hand, it does not focus on love. The main theme is marriage and relationships. Larkin provides his views on weddings (which is a symbol of love) as an isolated observer.

The first two stanza bears little importance in this essay. However it engages the reader by appealing to our sense: the feel of the ‘hot cushions,’ the sight of ‘blinding cars’ and the smell of the ‘fish-dock.’ Larkin also used informal ...

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