Phillip Larkin

Larkin’s works are a mixture of tones with strong leanings towards the sarcastic for the purposes of evoking a particular emotion or thought from the audience. Interestingly, it seems that by taking on an attitude of superiority with respect to others, he poses himself as the prime authority on all matters of opinion.  Reverence is shown, but only after his chief concern, (that is to say, his own opinion), is voiced.

In the poem, “Church Going,” Larkin illustrates this with ease.  His opinion of the aesthetic of the Church, not its intended purpose but what it currently is and his belief of that aesthetic is reverent but only with regard to his opinion thereof.  The title is witty as it would lead one to believe that it was a Sunday religious service, but it is simply a sightseeing trip.  Although, this is not without a deeper sentiment.  It is through his attitude that this approach takes form to disarm the reader. 

He asks, “Shall we avoid them as unlucky places?”  Here, Larkin is using ironic humor to invoke a response that states that simply because the Church is abandoned, it should not be forgotten.  This strongly points to the indifference of others, as it is others who have forgotten the Church, not the speaker having just visited the Church.  Once again, Larkin evokes a similar method in the line ”This special shell?”  By stating this as a question dripping with dry rhetorical wit, Larkin reinforces his opinion.  It is as if Larkin were to state rhetorically: Am I right?

 The final line of the poem, “If only that so many dead lie round” is the final insult to the ideals that of the current popular thought/belief.  It is humorous, as Larkin is basically stating that they and/or their ideas should die.  Or, as if to state, that it would be better if they were dead.  By using language and ideas this way, Larkin is able to use his biting wit to illustrate his point.

Larkin again takes on what he believes are ideas that wrong in the poem “Here.”  By juxtaposing different concepts, Larkin shows off his wit.  This is illustrated by contrasting the images of “domes and statues, spires” with “cheap suits.”  He includes literally and figuratively both the great and the small, as a means of pointing to the banality of what he sees. Also, this approach shocks the reader by introducing images that are on the opposite ends of the spectrum.

Larkin has a bitter-sweet tone in the final stanza, which is meant to illustrate the disparity between the concepts previously mentioned.  “Loneliness clarifies.  Here silence stands/ Like heat,” points to a feeling that Larkin wishes to convey.  That is to say that his unique perspective shines light on what he sees as the blight that is the situation.  In a contrast to his silence, there is a greater silence that is shown in the final line, “Facing the sun, untalkative, out of reach.”  Here, the speaker illustrates that he is not in touch with those around him, that his is disconnected from his peers.  In taking this stance, Larkin’s language indicates that he is alone and at one with himself, thus the cause of his biting wit and strong opinion.