Analysis between Mean Time and Whitsun Weddings - Theme of Contemporary Society

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Compare the ways in which Duffy and Larkin write about the theme of Contemporary Society in ‘Mean Time’ and ‘Whitsun Weddings’

In this essay I will be comparing the theme of Contemporary Society using a group of poems by both poets, Carol Ann Duffy and Phillip Larkin. Where both are great poets, they both have dissimilar styles based upon the way they observe the way society has remained the same and how it has changed since their childhood until the new found contemporary society where everybody is allowed to voice their opinions, no matter what race or religion, gender or age. Where Duffy seems to take a more relaxed and laid back attitude towards contemporary, even glad that a new age of freedom has dawned, Larkin take up a more regretful role in this new founded society and has a dislike towards anything that is not the same as how it was when he was a child, where he seemed to be safe and had an important role in society due to his class.

If we are, for example to compare and analyse the titles, ‘The Large Cool Store’, and ‘Litany’, in depth, we would be able to converge the meanings of these titles, and what makes them apt to be used as titles, appropriately for the respective poems. Firstly, if we take ‘The Large Cool Store,’ the adjective, ‘Large,’ has the connotations of a vast space, which could easily be industrial, such as a factory, the effect placed upon us from this is a uninviting place, which would not be desirable to be at, this is most likely how Larkin would see it through his eyes. However the provenance of ‘Cool,’ is American- English, which shows Americanisation creeping in, which has a large role in consumer society, thus meaning ‘Store,’ could be referred to as a shop. This would also make ‘Cool,’ also have connotations of fashionable, linking back to consumerism, however being desired, by people as they feel the need to look alike due to the pressures of contemporary society. ‘Cool Store,’ also gives us the image of a place where people gather to shop, if the sense of the word ‘store,’ was a shop. This would give us the image of people gathering together, to a place which is meaningful to them, and gives them a sense of connection, such as a church. In comparison, the etymology of the lexis ‘Litany,’ links to deep Religious views, this propels the audience’s imagination into perceiving the poem to be full of faith, and unity. To some extent this is true as each social class is to its own, and do not integrate with other classes, however is also misleading. If we were to juxtapose the lexis ‘Litany,’ we would see that there is not only a moral side of religion within religion, however a more false and undermining side. The impression of this is gained, as ‘Litany,’ also denotes to be a ‘boring list of complaints,’ which contradicts religion, as the wives seem to be religious, to the naked eye, expressing the beliefs and religion profoundly, through being good and proper. Where as really, they are more focused upon synthetic and materialistic objects, therefore believe more in concrete objects rather than abstract, therefore their faith seems to be the objects that they possess. This is ironic, as the use religion, to cover up their real side, in order to fool the eyes of others within their class, to prevent themselves from being judged, however they will never be able to escape God and prevent Him from judging them.

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Moving on, Consumer society is imbedded throughout both poems, proving it to be a key element and a vital constituent to which the two poems are centred around. Referring back to earlier, the concrete objects, ‘candlewick,’ ‘bedspread,’ ‘three piece suite,’ and ‘display cabinet,’ are designed to cause a sense of irony as these were a range of desired, materialistic products introduced in the 1950’s, and it is these that seem to be the religion of the ‘stiff- haired housewives’. In similarity, Larkin describes the ‘Store,’ as being the modern day substitute for a church, where people gather, however not for prayer ...

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