How Does Larkin Portray Facts of Life Which We'd Rather Not Face in His Poetry?

How Does Larkin Portray Facts of Life Which We'd Rather Not Face in His Poetry?

How Does Larkin Portray Facts of Life Which We'd Rather Not Face in His Poetry?
By Sophie Clark
Grade 11 English A1 HL
Dr. Ford
Word Count: 829

Despite the many opinions on Philip Larkin, commending and condemning his work, I personally have a favourite aspect about his poetry. The way he brings our attention to cringing truths of life or humanity which most people would rather overlook.   Although we all know them to be true, we do not admit it and it is an uncomfortable feeling when Larkin puts our true thoughts down in black and white.   This is a theme in several of his poems.


In the poem, Money, Larkin describes how life is so heavily influenced by monetary considerations.   The idea of money being able to buy anything one desires is said through the statement of “Money reproaches me”.   These things include “a second house and car and wife”, this is how people supposedly spend their money, however the irony of this is also shown in the poem.   Larkin tells us that no matter how you “bank your screw” (save your money) the money “won't in the end buy you more than a shave”, as in if you continue saving and saving your money without enjoying it, then you'll only spend it on a “shave” (at the morticians).   Two ironies of life are shown in this poem, firstly, how money is only spent on shallow and superficial things, “churches ornate”, and secondly how we continually save money until it is too late to spend it.   Money is spent to make   us appear rich, however saved in order for us to feel secure, perhaps more than we need, and we realise in the end it's too late.



Vers de Societe is one of the poems that completely embodies the truths of life which are swept under the rug.   He takes us within the thoughts of the persona, and in doing so the minds of all people, who often wonder “funny how hard it is to be alone”.   This points out how dependent most people are on others, as though other people validate themselves, and...