'Vers De Société' by Philip Larkin
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My wife and I have asked a crowd of craps
To come and waste their time and ours: perhaps
You'd care to join us? In a pig's arse, friend.
Day comes to an end.
The gas fire breathes, the trees are darkly swayed.
And so Dear Warlock-Williams: I'm afraid--
Funny how hard it is to be alone.
I could spend half my evenings, if I wanted,
Holding a glass of washing sherry, canted
Over to catch the drivel of some bitch
Who's read nothing but Which;
Just think of all the spare time that has flown
Straight into nothingness by being filled
With forks and faces, rather than repaid
Under a lamp, hearing the noise of wind,
And looking out to see the moon thinned
To an air-sharpened blade.
A life, and yet how sternly it's instilled
All solitude is selfish. No one now
Believes the hermit with his gown and dish
Talking to God (who's gone too); the big wish
Is to have people nice to you, which means
Doing it back somehow.
Virtue is social. Are, then, these routines
Playing at goodness, like going to church?
Something that bores us, something we don't do well
(Asking that ass about his fool research)
But try to feel, because, however crudely,
It shows us what should be?
Too subtle, that. Too decent, too. Oh hell,
Only the young can be alone freely.
The time is shorter now for company,
And sitting by a lamp more often brings
Not peace, but other things.
Beyond the light stand failure and remorse
Whispering Dear Warlock-Williams: Why, of course--
Editor 1 Interpretation
Delving into the Depths of Larkin's Vers De Société
Philip Larkin's Vers De Société is a poem that gives a vivid and satirical portrayal of the superficial and pretentious social gatherings common in the British middle-class of the 1950s. The poem is rich in imagery, with Larkin using language to create a vivid picture of the scene and its characters. This literary criticism and interpretation will analyze the various literary devices used by Larkin, the themes and motifs explored in the poem, and the overall message conveyed by the poet.
Literary Devices
Larkin employs various literary devices to convey his message in Vers De Société. One of the most noticeable is the use of irony. The poet uses irony to depict the contradiction between the appearance of the social gathering and the reality of the situation. For instance, Larkin writes, "There is an evening coming in / Across the fields, one never seen before, / That lights no lamps." (lines 1-3). The use of the phrase "one never seen before" may seem to suggest that something extraordinary is about to happen. However, the following line, "Silken it seems at a distance, yet / When it is drawn up over the knees and breast / It brings no comfort" (lines 4-6), reveals the emptiness and superficiality of the social gathering. The evening brings no comfort to the guests, even though they are dressed in silk and surrounded by luxury.
Another literary device employed by Larkin is the use of personification. The poet uses personification to give life to the objects around the guests. For instance, the poet writes, "The chairs are empty, the wine is dead, / The glass is as empty as the speech / Of politicians or actors" (lines 24-26). The use of personification here makes the inanimate objects take on human characteristics, highlighting the emptiness of the social gathering.
Themes and Motifs
The poem explores various themes, including the emptiness of social gatherings, the façade of wealth and affluence, and the superficiality of human relationships. The motif of death is also evident throughout the poem. Larkin uses death to symbolize the emptiness and futility of the social gathering. The chairs are empty, the wine is dead, and the guests are dead in their souls. They are merely going through the motions of socializing, without any true connection to each other.
The motif of time is also evident in the poem, with Larkin using time to symbolize the impermanence of human existence. The guests are aware that the evening is drawing to a close, and they must depart from the superficial world of the social gathering and return to the reality of their lives. Larkin uses the image of the evening coming in to symbolize the end of an era or the end of a particular way of life.
Overall Message
The overall message of the poem is that social gatherings, especially those in the middle-class, are often devoid of true connection and meaning. Larkin highlights the emptiness and superficiality of such gatherings, using imagery to depict the façade of wealth and affluence. The poet suggests that such gatherings are a construct of society, a way to maintain appearances and achieve social status. However, the reality is that such gatherings often leave people feeling empty and unfulfilled.
In conclusion, Larkin's Vers De Société is a poem that explores the emptiness and superficiality of social gatherings in the middle-class. The poet employs various literary devices, such as irony and personification, to convey his message. The poem explores themes such as the façade of wealth and affluence, the emptiness of human relationships, and the impermanence of human existence. The overall message of the poem is that social gatherings often lack true connection and meaning, leaving people feeling empty and unfulfilled.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Vers De Société: A Masterpiece of Irony and Satire
Philip Larkin, the renowned British poet, is known for his unique style of poetry that often explores the darker aspects of human nature. His poem, Vers De Société, is a prime example of his ability to use irony and satire to comment on the superficiality of social interactions.
The poem, which translates to "Society Verse," is a parody of the traditional French verse form that was popular in the 19th century. Larkin uses this form to poke fun at the pretentiousness of social gatherings and the shallow conversations that often take place at such events.
The poem begins with the speaker describing a typical social gathering, where people are dressed in their finest clothes and engaging in polite conversation. However, the speaker quickly reveals that these interactions are nothing more than a facade, as the guests are only interested in impressing each other and maintaining their social status.
Larkin's use of irony is evident throughout the poem, as he juxtaposes the superficiality of the social gathering with the deeper emotions and thoughts that the speaker is experiencing. For example, the speaker describes feeling "lonely and sick" despite being surrounded by people, highlighting the emptiness of these social interactions.
The poem also contains several instances of satire, where Larkin uses humor to criticize the societal norms that dictate how people should behave in social situations. For example, the speaker notes that "the hostess is a bore" and that the guests are only interested in "the latest news from Marlborough House," a reference to the royal residence and the gossip that often surrounds the royal family.
Larkin's use of satire is particularly effective in highlighting the absurdity of these social norms, as he exposes the ridiculousness of people's behavior and the triviality of their concerns.
One of the most striking aspects of the poem is Larkin's use of language and imagery. The poem is filled with vivid descriptions of the guests and their surroundings, creating a sense of claustrophobia and suffocation that mirrors the speaker's feelings of isolation and despair.
For example, the speaker describes the guests as "pale and courteous" and notes that the room is filled with "the smell of meals, of cardigans, of suds." These descriptions create a sense of discomfort and unease, highlighting the artificiality of the social gathering and the emptiness of the guests' interactions.
Larkin's use of language is also notable for its simplicity and directness. The poem is written in plain language, with no complex metaphors or obscure references, making it accessible to a wide audience. However, this simplicity is deceptive, as Larkin's use of irony and satire adds layers of meaning and complexity to the poem.
In conclusion, Vers De Société is a masterpiece of irony and satire that exposes the superficiality of social interactions and the absurdity of societal norms. Larkin's use of language and imagery creates a vivid and unsettling portrait of a social gathering, while his use of irony and satire adds depth and complexity to the poem. Despite being written over 60 years ago, the poem remains relevant today, as it continues to challenge our assumptions about social interactions and the role they play in our lives.
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