Larkin explores the gap between romantic yearning and disillusioned pragmatism in the lives we lead. Examine what Larkin has to say about this gap in a choice of poems from The Whitsun Weddings

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Larkin explores the gap between romantic yearning and disillusioned pragmatism

in the lives we lead. Examine what Larkin has to say about this gap in a choice of poems from “The Whitsun Weddings”

Philip Larkin wrote to engage his reader in the downsides and apparent depression of a post-war period in which aspirations and hope were high, as well as the romantic yearnings which seemed to be present in the majority of the population. Larkin wrote to explore the gulf between what we expect out of life and what he viewed as what we all have to at some point come to terms with, the disappointment and disillusionment that is life.

Andrew Motion states that “Larkin mirrors and vitalises a continual debate between hopeful romantic yearnings and disillusioned pragmatism.” This of course refers to the gulf that Larkin writes about so much as well as the continuous debate that goes on between these yearnings for something better and the dreariness of reality.

The poem “Sunny Prestatyn” is a good example of Larkins attempt to explore the gap between the grand illusions of happiness, individuality and fulfilment and the realities of these things themselves. “Sunny Prestatyn” seems to comment on the superficial society that has begun to emerge in the post war period as well as the false hope of life itself which is trying to be sold to the public through a typical holiday poster of the time, which much like the rest of life promises perfection, in a holiday. However Larkin explores the gulf between this disillusionment which is being sold and reality itself through the use of vulgarity.

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The thing that would strike a reader the most about the poem is the use of vulgarity which Larkin uses to make a comment on the vulgarity of the poster itself and the lies of happiness which are trying to be sold. The sexual provocative ness is possibly the most noticeable of the vulgarities as it prompts the vulgar language which is used throughout the poem, without one you wouldn’t get the other.

The fact the poem is called Sunny Prestatyn could almost be seen as an ironic comment by Larkin on this gulf, it even seems like the poem ...

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