'The Mower' by Philip Larkin
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The mower stalled, twice; kneeling, I found
A hedgehog jammed up against the blades,
Killed. It had been in the long grass.
I had seen it before, and even fed it, once.
Now I had mauled its unobtrusive world
Unmendably. Burial was no help:
Next morning I got up and it did not.
The first day after a death, the new absence
Is always the same; we should be careful
Of each other, we should be kind
While there is still time.
Editor 1 Interpretation
A Deeper Look into "The Mower" by Philip Larkin
When we think of literary greats, Philip Larkin is not a name that immediately comes to mind. However, those who delve into his work will find a wealth of depth and meaning in his poetry. One of his most notable works is "The Mower," a poem that explores themes of loss and mortality. In this literary criticism and interpretation, we will take a closer look at Larkin's "The Mower" and analyze its significance and impact.
Background and Context
First published in 1979, "The Mower" is a relatively short poem consisting of four stanzas. It was written during a period of Larkin's life when he was struggling with depression and alcoholism. The poem draws its inspiration from Andrew Marvell's "The Mower Against Gardens," but takes a different approach to the theme of nature and its influence on human life.
The speaker in the poem is a mower who is cutting grass in a field. As he goes about his task, he reflects on his own mortality and the inevitability of death. He also contemplates the idea of a higher power and the possibility of an afterlife. The tone of the poem is bleak, but there is a sense of resignation and acceptance in the speaker's voice.
Analysis
Structure and Form
One of the most striking things about "The Mower" is its structure and form. The poem consists of four stanzas, each containing four lines. The rhyme scheme is ABAB, with the second and fourth lines of each stanza rhyming. This creates a sense of symmetry and balance in the poem.
The use of enjambment is also notable in "The Mower." Larkin frequently uses run-on lines, which creates a sense of momentum and movement in the poem. This technique is particularly effective in the third stanza, where the run-on lines emphasize the speaker's sense of desperation:
The first day after a death, the new absence
Is always the same; we should be careful
Of each other, we should be kind
While there is still time.
The overall effect of the form and structure of "The Mower" is to create a sense of inevitability and resignation. The poem moves steadily towards its conclusion, mirroring the speaker's acceptance of his own mortality.
Theme of Mortality
At its core, "The Mower" is a meditation on mortality. The speaker is acutely aware of his own aging and the inevitability of death. He reflects on the fact that the grass he is cutting will grow again, while he himself is in a state of constant decay:
The mower stalled, twice; kneeling, I found
A hedgehog jammed up against the blades,
Killed. It had been in the long grass. I had seen
It before, and even fed it, once.
The image of the hedgehog, killed by the mower, serves as a powerful metaphor for the speaker's own mortality. The hedgehog is helpless, caught in the blades of the mower, just as the speaker is caught in the inexorable march of time. The fact that the speaker had seen and fed the hedgehog before adds to the sense of loss and sadness in the poem.
Nature and the Divine
Another theme that runs throughout "The Mower" is the relationship between nature and the divine. The speaker seems to be searching for some kind of meaning or purpose in the natural world. He wonders if there is a "mind" behind the universe, and if that mind has any interest in the fate of human beings:
We should be careful
Of each other, we should be kind
While there is still time.
These lines suggest that the speaker believes in some kind of higher power or divine force, but that this force is ultimately indifferent to human suffering. The only solace he can find is in the kindness and compassion of his fellow human beings.
Tone and Mood
The tone of "The Mower" is bleak and somber, but there is a sense of acceptance and resignation in the speaker's voice. He is not railing against the inevitability of death, but rather acknowledging it and trying to come to terms with it. There is a sense of peace in the final lines of the poem:
We should be careful
Of each other, we should be kind
While there is still time.
These lines suggest that the speaker has found some measure of peace in the face of mortality. While death may be inevitable, he believes that there is still time to be kind to one another, and to make the most of the time we have left.
Interpretation
"The Mower" is a poem that speaks to the human condition. We all must face our own mortality at some point, and Larkin's poem is a poignant reminder of this fact. The speaker's reflections on the natural world and the possibility of a divine force add a layer of complexity to the poem, but ultimately it is a meditation on the transience of life and the importance of kindness and compassion.
The fact that Larkin wrote this poem during a period of depression and alcoholism adds another dimension to its meaning. The poem can be seen as a reflection of Larkin's own struggles with mortality and the search for meaning in a chaotic world.
Conclusion
In conclusion, "The Mower" is a powerful and thought-provoking poem that explores themes of mortality, nature, and the divine. Larkin's use of form and structure, as well as his melancholy tone, create a sense of inevitability and resignation that is both haunting and beautiful. While the poem may be bleak, it ultimately offers a message of hope and compassion in the face of our own mortality.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
The Mower by Philip Larkin is a classic poem that explores the themes of nature, mortality, and the human condition. Written in 1964, the poem is a reflection on the life of a mower who is cutting grass in a field. The poem is a powerful commentary on the fragility of life and the inevitability of death.
The poem begins with the image of the mower cutting grass in a field. The mower is described as a "man with a mower" who is "cutting the grass near the graves." The image of the mower cutting grass near the graves is a powerful metaphor for the inevitability of death. The mower is cutting the grass that will eventually cover the graves, symbolizing the cycle of life and death.
As the poem progresses, the mower is described as a "lonely figure" who is "moving in the heat." The image of the lonely figure moving in the heat is a powerful metaphor for the human condition. The mower is a symbol of the human struggle to find meaning and purpose in life. The heat represents the challenges and difficulties that we face in life, and the loneliness represents the isolation and alienation that we often feel.
The poem then takes a dark turn as the mower accidentally kills a hedgehog with his mower. The image of the hedgehog being killed by the mower is a powerful metaphor for the fragility of life. The hedgehog is a symbol of innocence and vulnerability, and its death represents the fragility of life and the inevitability of death.
The poem then shifts to a reflection on the nature of death. The mower is described as "stopping to look at the world" and "seeing it clearly for the first time." The image of the mower stopping to look at the world is a powerful metaphor for the moment of death. The moment of death is a moment of clarity, where we see the world for what it truly is.
The poem then ends with the image of the mower continuing to cut the grass. The image of the mower continuing to cut the grass is a powerful metaphor for the cycle of life and death. The mower represents the human struggle to find meaning and purpose in life, and the grass represents the cycle of life and death.
Overall, The Mower by Philip Larkin is a powerful poem that explores the themes of nature, mortality, and the human condition. The poem is a reflection on the fragility of life and the inevitability of death. The image of the mower cutting grass near the graves is a powerful metaphor for the cycle of life and death, and the image of the hedgehog being killed by the mower is a powerful metaphor for the fragility of life. The poem is a powerful commentary on the human struggle to find meaning and purpose in life, and the inevitability of death.
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