'MCMXIV' by Philip Larkin
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Those long uneven lines
Standing as patiently
As if they were stretched outside
The Oval or Villa Park,
The crowns of hats, the sun
On moustached archaic faces
Grinning as if it were all
An August Bank Holiday lark;
And the shut shops, the bleached
Established names on the sunblinds,
The farthings and sovereigns,
And dark-clothed children at play
Called after kings and queens,
The tin advertisements
For cocoa and twist, and the pubs
Wide open all day;
And the countryside not caring
The place-names all hazed over
With flowering grasses, and fields
Shadowing Domesday lines
Under wheat's restless silence;
The differently-dressed servants
With tiny rooms in huge houses,
The dust behind limousines;
Never such innocence,
Never before or since,
As changed itself to past
Without a word--the men
Leaving the gardens tidy,
The thousands of marriages
Lasting a little while longer:
Never such innocence again.
Editor 1 Interpretation
MCMXIV by Philip Larkin: A Deep Dive into the Poetic Masterpiece
When it comes to the greatest poets of the 20th century, Philip Larkin is one of the names that always come to mind. And among his many works, one that stands out as a masterpiece is MCMXIV, a poem that captures the essence of the pre-World War I era in England. In this literary criticism and interpretation, we will explore the poem in-depth, analyzing its themes, imagery, structure, and language, and revealing the layers of meaning that make it a timeless piece of art.
The World before the War: Nostalgia and Irony
The first thing that strikes the reader about MCMXIV is its title, which stands for 1914 in Roman numerals. This immediately sets the tone for the poem, as it evokes a sense of timelessness and historical significance. The poem opens with an image of a crowd of people gathered in front of a recruiting office, waiting to enlist in the army. Larkin describes them as "Never such innocence" and "The crowds upon the pavement/ Were fields of harvest wheat." This juxtaposition of innocence and harvest with the impending war creates a sense of nostalgia and irony. The innocence of the young men who volunteer to fight is contrasted with the harsh reality of the war that will change their lives forever. The fields of harvest wheat symbolize the abundance and prosperity of the pre-war era, which will soon be destroyed by the conflict.
Larkin goes on to describe in detail the appearance and behavior of the people in the crowd, from their hats and suits to their facial expressions and gestures. He notes their different social classes and occupations, from "smart white-collar workers" to "plasterer's lads." He also observes the role of women in the scene, who are "no longer young" and "stiffened from long tucks up to the chin/ With handbags, incongruous and sinister." This description creates a vivid picture of the world before the war, with its class divisions, gender roles, and cultural norms. At the same time, it highlights the humanity and individuality of the people in the crowd, who are not just faceless masses, but complex and diverse individuals.
The War Machine: Industrialization and Dehumanization
As the poem progresses, Larkin shifts his focus from the crowd to the larger forces that shape their lives: the government, the media, and the military. He describes the recruiting office as "a huge recruiting-campaign" that uses "hoardings" and "sandwich-men" to spread propaganda and recruit soldiers. He also mentions the role of the press in shaping public opinion, with its "sensational headlines" and "photographs of how the war was going." This portrayal of the war machine as a well-oiled propaganda and recruitment system highlights the role of industrialization in modern warfare, which turned soldiers into mere cogs in a larger machine.
Larkin also touches on the dehumanization of soldiers, who are reduced to numbers and statistics by the military bureaucracy. He notes how the soldiers are "counted out" and "counted off" as they march away, and how their names are "put in alphabetical order" in the casualty lists. This dehumanization of soldiers is also reflected in the language and imagery of the poem, which uses military jargon and metaphors to describe the human experience of war. For example, Larkin writes: "Never such innocence again" - a phrase that echoes the military command "Never again" - and "The thousands of marriages lasting a little while longer" - which compares marriage to a military campaign with a fixed duration.
The Loss of Innocence: Death and Memory
The central theme of MCMXIV is the loss of innocence that the war brought to England and the world. Larkin explores this theme through various motifs, such as the image of the crowd, the use of irony and nostalgia, and the contrast between the present and the past. He also uses various literary devices, such as repetition, alliteration, and enjambment, to create a sense of rhythm and momentum in the poem.
One of the most powerful passages in the poem is the one that describes the soldiers marching away from the recruiting office, towards the unknown and the inevitable. Larkin writes:
"Never such innocence, Never before or since, As changed itself to past Without a word – the men Leaving the gardens tidy, The thousands of marriages, Lasting a little while longer: Never such innocence again."
The repetition of "Never such innocence" creates a sense of finality and loss, as if the innocence that existed before the war is now a thing of the past, forever lost. The use of the present tense ("Leaving the gardens tidy") and the past tense ("Lasting a little while longer") creates a contrast between the present and the past, and emphasizes the transience and fragility of human life and memory. The phrase "changed itself to past without a word" suggests that the transformation from innocence to experience is sudden and irreversible, and that the soldiers and the people they left behind have no say in the matter.
The Legacy of MCMXIV: War and Peace
In conclusion, MCMXIV is a powerful and multi-layered poem that captures the essence of the pre-World War I era in England, and the loss of innocence that the war brought to the world. Through its vivid imagery, rich language, and complex structure, the poem reveals the humanity, diversity, and complexity of the people who lived in that era, and the larger forces that shaped their lives. At the same time, the poem speaks to universal themes of war, peace, memory, and loss, that are relevant to all times and places.
As readers, we are left to ponder the legacy of MCMXIV, and its relevance to our own times. What lessons can we learn from the war that changed the world a century ago? How can we prevent such a catastrophe from happening again? How can we honor the memory of the millions of soldiers and civilians who lost their lives in that war, and create a more peaceful and just world for future generations? These are questions that MCMXIV raises, and that we must answer if we are to build a better world.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
MCMXIV: A Poem of Nostalgia and Loss
Philip Larkin's MCMXIV is a classic poem that captures the essence of a bygone era. The poem, written in 1964, is a reflection on the year 1914, the year that marked the beginning of World War I. Larkin's poem is a poignant reminder of the loss of innocence and the destruction of a way of life that occurred during this tumultuous period in history.
The poem begins with a description of the scene outside a recruiting office in a small town in England. The men who are queuing up to enlist are described as "grinning as if it were all/ An August Bank Holiday lark". This line sets the tone for the rest of the poem, as it highlights the naivety and innocence of the men who are about to go to war. The reference to the August Bank Holiday, a traditional British holiday, adds to the sense of nostalgia that permeates the poem.
Larkin goes on to describe the men in more detail, noting their physical appearance and their clothing. He describes them as "grey and khaki, mixed with the khaki of smart salutes". This line is significant because it highlights the fact that the men are all dressed in the same uniform, which serves to erase their individuality and make them part of a larger, faceless group.
The poem then moves on to describe the town itself, which is also undergoing a transformation. Larkin notes that "the shops had signs/ In spidery gold, lettered/ 'Respectable'". This line is significant because it highlights the fact that the town is changing, becoming more modern and more commercial. The reference to the "spidery gold" of the signs adds to the sense of nostalgia, as it suggests that the town is losing its traditional character.
Larkin then goes on to describe the people who are watching the men as they march off to war. He notes that "the women came and went/ Bare-headed, picking up the brochures". This line is significant because it highlights the fact that the women are not going to war themselves, but are instead left behind to pick up the pieces. The reference to the "brochures" adds to the sense of propaganda that was prevalent during the war, as it suggests that the women are being encouraged to support the war effort in any way they can.
The poem then moves on to describe the impact of the war on the men who are fighting. Larkin notes that "never such innocence,/ Never before or since". This line is significant because it highlights the fact that the men who went to war were never the same again. The reference to "innocence" suggests that the men were naive and unprepared for the horrors that they would face on the battlefield.
Larkin then goes on to describe the impact of the war on the town itself. He notes that "the place was gone,/ Darker, greener, wilder". This line is significant because it highlights the fact that the war had a profound impact on the landscape of the town. The reference to the town being "darker, greener, wilder" suggests that the war had a destructive impact on the environment, as well as on the people who lived there.
The poem then moves on to describe the impact of the war on the country as a whole. Larkin notes that "the thousands of marriages,/ Lasting a little while longer". This line is significant because it highlights the fact that the war had a profound impact on the social fabric of the country. The reference to marriages lasting "a little while longer" suggests that the war put a strain on relationships, as well as on the individuals who were directly affected by it.
The poem then ends with a reflection on the men who went to war. Larkin notes that "never such innocence again". This line is significant because it highlights the fact that the men who went to war were forever changed by their experiences. The reference to "innocence" suggests that the men were unprepared for the horrors that they would face, and that their experiences would leave a lasting impact on them.
In conclusion, Philip Larkin's MCMXIV is a classic poem that captures the essence of a bygone era. The poem is a poignant reminder of the loss of innocence and the destruction of a way of life that occurred during World War I. Larkin's use of language and imagery creates a powerful sense of nostalgia, as well as a sense of loss and sadness. The poem is a testament to the enduring impact of war on individuals, communities, and countries as a whole.
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