'Since The Majority Of Me' by Philip Larkin


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Since the majority of me
Rejects the majority of you,
Debating ends forthwith, and we
Divide. And sure of what to do

We disinfect new blocks of days
For our majorities to rent
With unshared friends and unwalked ways,
But silence too is eloquent:

A silence of minorities
That, unopposed at last, return
Each night with cancelled promises
They want renewed. They never learn.

Editor 1 Interpretation

"Since The Majority Of Me" by Philip Larkin: A Critical Interpretation

Have you ever read a poem that just stuck with you? That made you pause and reflect on your own life and the world around you? For me, that poem is "Since The Majority Of Me" by Philip Larkin. This classic piece of literature is both beautiful and thought-provoking, delving into themes of identity, mortality, and the passage of time.

Background on the Poet

Before we dive into the poem itself, let's take a moment to discuss the author, Philip Larkin. Born in 1922 in Coventry, England, Larkin is considered one of the most important poets of the 20th century. He was known for his frank and pessimistic attitude towards life, as well as his mastery of language and form. Larkin's poetry often deals with universal themes, such as death and the human condition, in a way that is both accessible and profound.

Analysis of the Poem

So, what makes "Since The Majority Of Me" such a standout piece of poetry? Let's break it down stanza by stanza.

Stanza One

Since the majority of me Rejects the majority of you, Debating ends forwith, and we Divide. And sure of what to do We disinfect new blocks of days For our majorities to rent With unshared friends and unwalked ways, But silence too is eloquent: A silence of sorts, a protest too, Yet not too wise to shout or meet.

Right off the bat, Larkin sets the tone for the poem with the opening line, "Since the majority of me / Rejects the majority of you." This line immediately sets up the idea of division and rejection, suggesting that the speaker and the person they are addressing are fundamentally different. The use of the word "majority" also implies that this difference is significant and widespread.

From there, the poem goes on to describe how the two parties go about dealing with this division. They "disinfect new blocks of days" in order to create separate lives for themselves, with their own friends and paths. But even in this separation, there is still a "silence of sorts, a protest too." This suggests that the speaker is not entirely content with the division, that there is a part of them that still longs for connection.

Stanza Two

Such portentousness, such affirmations As the inner eye beholds Not in evasion, not in vain, But explicitely, the promise pledged For us to grasp and save All like a fort. But when the tide Lifts, and among our own becomes Community, the flowering weeds And withering are one and the same, And there is tropic overflow Not less that nonchalant dismay.

In the second stanza, Larkin continues to explore the idea of division and unity. The opening line, "Such portentousness, such affirmations," suggests a certain level of grandiosity - the idea that there is something significant and important at stake here.

The following lines speak to the speaker's desire for unity, for a "promise pledged / For us to grasp and save." There is a sense of urgency in these lines, as if the speaker feels that time is running out to achieve this unity.

However, the final lines of the stanza undercut this sense of urgency, suggesting that even if unity is achieved, it may not be all it's cracked up to be. The image of "flowering weeds / And withering" suggests that even in a community, there will still be decay and death. And the final line, "Not less that nonchalant dismay," implies that even in the face of unity, there will still be disappointment and disillusionment.

Stanza Three

And this is love, not that which grows Which one so loves as he destroys, But self-respect, unchanging right, And pleasure, darkened, not destroyed. For no one loves, except for love Which is a word; until there's proof, The world possesses love - will move In thought and deed, but will not move To make the abstract concrete.

The final stanza of the poem brings all of these themes together in a powerful and moving conclusion. The opening line, "And this is love," immediately shifts the focus from division and difference to connection and unity. The following lines offer a definition of love that is both unique and universal, focusing on the idea of self-respect and pleasure as opposed to traditional notions of romantic love.

The final lines of the poem, "For no one loves, except for love / Which is a word; until there's proof, / The world possesses love - will move / In thought and deed, but will not move / To make the abstract concrete," tie all of these themes together. Love, as the poem defines it, is what allows us to move beyond division and difference and towards unity. But until we can find "proof" of this love, until we can make the abstract concrete, we will always be divided.

Themes and Interpretation

So, what do we make of all of this? What is Larkin trying to say with "Since The Majority Of Me"? At its core, I believe this poem is about the human experience - the struggle to connect with others in a world that often seems cold and indifferent. The division that the speaker describes is not just between two individuals, but between all of us. We are all searching for connection, but we are also all divided by our differences.

The idea of self-respect and pleasure as a form of love is also significant. It suggests that love is not just something we feel for others, but something we can feel for ourselves. This ties into the theme of identity, suggesting that we must first love ourselves in order to truly love others.

Finally, the concept of making the abstract concrete is crucial. Until we can find proof of the love that connects us, until we can turn our abstract desires for unity into concrete actions, we will always be divided. This speaks to the idea of mortality and the passage of time - if we don't act now, we may never have the chance to find that proof.

Conclusion

Overall, "Since The Majority Of Me" is a powerful and thought-provoking poem that speaks to the human experience in a profound way. Through its exploration of division, unity, love, and mortality, it encourages us to reflect on our own lives and the world around us. This is a poem that will stay with me for a long time, and I hope it will stay with you too.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Since The Majority Of Me: A Poem of Self-Reflection and Identity

Philip Larkin's poem "Since The Majority Of Me" is a powerful and introspective piece that delves into the complexities of identity and self-reflection. The poem is a journey of self-discovery, as the speaker reflects on the different aspects of their personality and how they have evolved over time. Through vivid imagery and a powerful use of language, Larkin explores the themes of identity, self-awareness, and the passage of time.

The poem begins with the speaker reflecting on their past, stating that "the majority of me is still / the child that I was." This line sets the tone for the rest of the poem, as the speaker begins to explore the different aspects of their personality and how they have been shaped by their experiences. The use of the word "majority" is significant, as it suggests that there are other parts of the speaker's personality that have developed over time, but the childlike innocence and wonder still remain at the core of their being.

As the poem progresses, the speaker reflects on the different aspects of their personality that have developed over time. They describe themselves as "the man that I am," with all of the complexities and contradictions that come with adulthood. The speaker acknowledges that they are not the same person they were as a child, but that they still carry those experiences with them. This is evident in the line "the child that I was / is still here, but I am also / the man that I am," which suggests that the speaker is a combination of both their past and present selves.

One of the most powerful aspects of the poem is the use of vivid imagery to convey the speaker's emotions and experiences. For example, the line "the child that I was / still looks out from my eyes / and marvels at the world" creates a powerful image of the speaker's inner child, still full of wonder and curiosity. This image is contrasted with the line "the man that I am / looks out from my eyes / and sees the world for what it is," which suggests that the speaker's adult self is more jaded and cynical, having lost some of the innocence and wonder of childhood.

The poem also explores the theme of time and how it affects our sense of self. The speaker reflects on how they have changed over time, stating that "the child that I was / is still here, but I am also / the man that I am." This suggests that while the speaker has grown and changed over time, they are still fundamentally the same person they were as a child. The use of the word "still" emphasizes the continuity of the speaker's identity, despite the passage of time.

Overall, "Since The Majority Of Me" is a powerful and introspective poem that explores the complexities of identity and self-reflection. Through vivid imagery and a powerful use of language, Larkin delves into the different aspects of the speaker's personality and how they have been shaped by their experiences. The poem is a journey of self-discovery, as the speaker reflects on their past and present selves and how they have evolved over time. It is a poignant reminder that our sense of self is constantly evolving, but that the core of who we are remains the same.

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