'The Whitsun Weddings' by Philip Larkin
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The Whitsun Weddings1958That Whitsun, I was late getting away:Not till about
One-twenty on the sunlit SaturdayDid my three-quarters-empty train pull out,
All windows down, all cushions hot, all sense
Of being in a hurry gone. We ranBehind the backs of houses, crossed a street
Of blinding windscreens, smelt the fish-dock; thenceThe river's level drifting breadth began,Where sky and Lincolnshire and water meet.All afternoon, through the tall heat that sleptFor miles inland,A slow and stopping curve southwards we kept.Wide farms went by, short-shadowed cattle, andCanals with floatings of industrial froth;A hothouse flashed uniquely: hedges dippedAnd rose: and now and then a smell of grassDisplaced the reek of buttoned carriage-clothUntil the next town, new and nondescript,Approached with acres of dismantled cars.At first, I didn't notice what a noiseThe weddings made
Each station that we stopped at: sun destroys
The interest of what's happening in the shade,
And down the long cool platforms whoops and skirls
I took for porters larking with the mails,
And went on reading. Once we started, though,
We passed them, grinning and pomaded, girls
In parodies of fashion, heels and veils,
All posed irresolutely, watching us go,As if out on the end of an eventWaving goodbye
To something that survived it. Struck, I leant
More promptly out next time, more curiously,
And saw it all again in different terms:
The fathers with broad belts under their suits
And seamy foreheads; mothers loud and fat;
An uncle shouting smut; and then the perms,
The nylon gloves and jewellery-substitutes,
The lemons, mauves, and olive-ochres thatMarked off the girls unreally from the rest.Yes, from cafés
And banquet-halls up yards, and bunting-dressedCoach-party annexes, the wedding-daysWere coming to an end. All down the lineFresh couples climbed aboard: the rest stood round;The last confetti and advice were thrown,And, as we moved, each face seemed to defineJust what it saw departing: children frowned
At something dull; fathers had never knownSuccess so huge and wholly farcical;The women shared
The secret like a happy funeral;
While girls, gripping their handbags tighter, stared
At a religious wounding. Free at last,
And loaded with the sum of all they saw,
We hurried towards London, shuffling gouts of steam.
Now fields were building-plots, and poplars cast
Long shadows over major roads, and for
Some fifty minutes, that in time would seemJust long enough to settle hats and say
Editor 1 Interpretation
The Whitsun Weddings by Philip Larkin: A Deep Dive into Modern Society
Have you ever read a poem that captures the essence of a society so perfectly, it feels like you're living in it? The Whitsun Weddings by Philip Larkin is one of those poems. Written in 1955, it offers a deep dive into the modern society of post-war Britain, exploring themes of love, religion, and class divide through the lens of a train journey.
At first glance, The Whitsun Weddings may seem like a simple observation of a train journey on a holiday. But as you dig deeper, you realize that Larkin is painting an intricate portrait of a society in flux, where traditional values are clashing with modern aspirations.
The Journey Begins
The poem starts with the speaker boarding a train on a Whitsun holiday, a day when people traditionally got married. As the train moves forward, the speaker observes the people around him and reflects on the significance of this day. He sees "brides in their fresh and new dresses" and "grooms with bleached stiff collars," all eager to start their new lives together.
But the speaker is not a participant in this celebration of love. He is a detached observer, watching from a distance as the train passes through various towns and cities. He notices how the landscape changes, from urban industrial areas to rural countryside, and how the people change with it.
The Societal Divide
As the train makes its way through different towns, the speaker becomes acutely aware of the class divide that exists in society. He sees the "lower middle-class" people boarding the train at one stop and the "skewed" working-class people at another. He notes how the "smart" and "well-to-do" people live in the suburbs, while the "bleak" and "grimy" ones live in the city center.
Larkin is not just describing the physical landscape of England but also the social landscape. He is showing how people's lives are determined by their class and how this divide is perpetuated by the physical separation of the suburbs and the city center.
Love and Marriage
As the train journey continues, the speaker reflects on the nature of love and marriage in modern society. He sees the young couples on the train, filled with hope and excitement, and wonders if their love will last. He notes how marriage has become an institution in which people seek security rather than love.
The speaker is not cynical about love, but he is aware of its fragility. He knows that it is not enough to sustain a relationship, especially in a society where material aspirations have become more important than emotional connections.
Religion and God
Throughout the poem, Larkin also explores the role of religion in modern society. He notes how the "priests and the stationmasters" are both "unusual" and "uncommon." He observes how the churches are empty, and the people have lost faith in God.
Larkin is not condemning religion, but he is pointing out its irrelevance in modern society. He is showing how people have turned away from God and towards material aspirations as a source of comfort and security.
Conclusion
The Whitsun Weddings by Philip Larkin is a masterpiece of modern poetry. It offers a deep dive into the complexities of modern society, exploring themes of love, class divide, and religion. Through the lens of a train journey, Larkin paints an intricate portrait of a society in flux, where traditional values are clashing with modern aspirations.
As you read the poem, you can't help but feel a sense of nostalgia for a time gone by. But at the same time, you are aware of the timeless nature of Larkin's observations. The Whitsun Weddings is not just a reflection of post-war Britain, but a commentary on the human condition that transcends time and place.
If you haven't read The Whitsun Weddings yet, I highly recommend it. It's a poem that will stay with you long after you've finished reading it, leaving you with a deeper understanding of the world we live in.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
The Whitsun Weddings: A Masterpiece of Modern Poetry
Philip Larkin's The Whitsun Weddings is a masterpiece of modern poetry that captures the essence of life in post-war Britain. Published in 1964, the poem is a reflection on the poet's journey from Hull to London on a train filled with newlyweds on their way to their honeymoon destinations. The poem is a vivid portrayal of the changing landscape of Britain, the social and cultural changes that were taking place, and the human condition in general.
The poem is divided into eight stanzas, each with nine lines. The structure of the poem is simple, with a regular rhyme scheme and meter. However, the simplicity of the structure belies the complexity of the themes that the poem explores. The poem is a meditation on the nature of love, marriage, and the passing of time.
The poem begins with the poet's description of the train journey from Hull to London. The train is filled with newlyweds, and the poet observes them with a mixture of curiosity and detachment. He describes the scene with a keen eye for detail, capturing the sights, sounds, and smells of the journey. The train passes through the industrial landscape of the North, with its factories, chimneys, and slag heaps. The poet notes the contrast between the beauty of the countryside and the ugliness of the industrial landscape.
As the train approaches London, the poet reflects on the nature of love and marriage. He notes that the newlyweds are full of hope and expectation, but he also recognizes the fragility of their happiness. He observes that love is not a fixed state, but a process of change and growth. He notes that the newlyweds are not yet aware of the challenges that lie ahead, and that their happiness may be short-lived.
The poem then takes a darker turn, as the poet reflects on the passing of time and the inevitability of death. He notes that the train journey is a metaphor for the journey of life, with its ups and downs, its joys and sorrows. He observes that the passing of time is relentless, and that we are all subject to its inexorable march. He notes that the newlyweds are not immune to the ravages of time, and that their happiness may be fleeting.
The poem ends with a powerful image of the newlyweds disembarking from the train, and the poet watching them disappear into the distance. The image is a poignant reminder of the transience of life, and the inevitability of our own mortality. The poem is a powerful meditation on the human condition, and a reminder of the fragility of our existence.
In conclusion, The Whitsun Weddings is a masterpiece of modern poetry that captures the essence of life in post-war Britain. The poem is a meditation on the nature of love, marriage, and the passing of time. It is a powerful reminder of the fragility of our existence, and a testament to the enduring power of poetry to capture the human experience.
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