Afternoons_Philip_Larkin_-_Ordinary_Scene_with_Increased_Significance

Philip Larkin’s poem ‘Afternoons’ shows how the most insignificant event can have an increased importance by the end of the poem. His description of young mothers taking their children to a playground seems like a common topic but once the poem is closely analysed Larkin’s point of view on life is skilfully expressed. What seems like an ordinary, everyday occurrence cleverly highlights Larkin’s theme of the inevitability of change and the passing of time. Larkin’s use of word choice, symbolism and imagery clearly portrays this passage of time and the routineness of these mothers lives. The opening of the poem gives a vivid insight into the main themes of the poem through the ordinary scene of mothers taking their children to the park. The first line sets the scene at the beginning of autumn, “Summer is fading.” Seasons are used to symbolism certain stages in life. In autumn, most life starts to fade away and diminish in front of our eyes. This illustrates how these mothers lives are deteriorating, their children have become the only thing they live for. ‘Fading’ further emphasises how their lives are vanishing. This links to the title of the poem which shows how the poem deals with a normal event, “Afternoons” The use of plural suggests he is not discussing only one day but several days which illustrate how this is routine for these young mothers. They are doing the same things every day which show how monotonous their lives are. It could also express the stage of their lives they have reached. They are not in the early morning which could symbolise childhood but have not reached ‘night’ which could symbolism old age. The theme is exposed through these as their lives are ‘fading’ away due to the bombardment of motherhood. This shows the passage of time as these mother’s lives are passing by like the seasons of the year. The emptiness of these mothers lives are shown through Larkin’s word choice. Larkin describes, _“In the hollows of afternoons Young mothers assemble... Setting free their children.”_ This shows just how mundane these women’s lives are. ‘Hollows’ illustrates how empty their lives are, they have no content. The only thing their days are fulfilled is by caring for their children. Their lives seem regimented which is shown through the fact the ‘assemble’ together. It also suggests they are expected to do this every day as you do not usually have the choice to attend an assembly. There is a stark contrast between the lives of these mothers and their children. They can be ‘set free’ which shows they can do whatever they please, they have the freedom and opportunity to live their lives unlike their mothers who are trapped by their routine, monotonous lives. They cannot change the life they have created from themselves; they have no control over their options in life; marriage and motherhood have decided their fate for them. This shows that these mother’s lives will never be changed. They watch as their children playing freely while time passes them by and they do not have a future to look forward as it will be the same as every other day. The careful word choice emphasises this which shows Larkin’s clever portrayal of the passage of time. Larkin’s careful observations of these women’s lives show just how much the passage of time has affected them. As the poem continues it implies how this mother past has been forgotten, “_And the albums, lettered Our Wedding, lying Near the television.”_ This shows how Larkin drains the women’s lives of any romance they once had. A woman’s wedding day is the happiest day of her life which would be a significant and special memory. However, Larkin describes the pictures from this day are sitting next to the television which shows how they are just seem like a piece of clutter. They lie abandoned with no significance whatsoever. The television is also a routine in which we all fall into. Suggests the television has more importance than the memory of the woman’s wedding or the fact her wedding was just an ordinary day. This expresses the passage of time as it shows as these women’s lives become more of a routine the most important days in her past are forgotten and are not considered to be a valuable memory. While these mothers stand back and watch their lives pass by, “Their children, so intent on_ Finding more unripe acorns, Expect to be taken home.”_ This shows how their lives have been flooded with the responsibilities of having a child. These women do not have choice to care for their children, they must do it. ‘Unripe’ shows how these children still have time to make something of their lives which again contrasts with their mothers. They have the opportunity to live life and make choices before being bombarded with the responsibilities of being a mother and wife. The fact these children are ‘intent’ on finding insignificant objects also show how they have no worries in their lives. They do not have to search for anything of importance which further emphasises the contrast between the children and mothers. These mother are searching for themselves and a life of fulfilment which seem impossible. Larkin suggests the way in which these mothers have dealt with motherhood, “Their beauty has thickened.” This illustrates how these once beautiful women have been destroyed by life. They no longer have time to care for themselves so have forgotten that they should be looked after as well as the children. It also could symbolise how they have became ‘thick-skinned.’ These mothers have just learned to carry on with life as they know nothing will change the dull lives they possess. This passage of time is created through describing the demands of these children. These women’s lives have been ruled by the demands of their children. Larkin often ends his poem by making a comment that can be applied to all our lives, which he does in ‘Afternoons.’ The last two lines in the poem show the loss of control these women have regarding their lives. “Something is pushing them_ To the side of their own lives.”_ This implies these women have become subconscious onlookers of their own lives. They have no control. The only thing controlling them is the demands of their family which they must meet. Their feelings are no longer valued, they cannot make a choice for themselves, and it has to benefit their family. This also suggests Larkin does not believe it is these mothers fault for the emptiness in their lives. The burdens of family life have forced these women to become spectators in their somewhat depressing lives. They are not seen as a worthy person, they are there to serve the needs of their children and husbands. This is a strong statement which shows just how these women’s lives have been affected by the passage of time. Their lives have diminished in front of their eyes, and now they will have to watch their children do the same. Larkin’s concerns about the emptiness of people’s lives are clearly shown through his poems and ‘Afternoons’ is no exception. He describes the very ordinary scene of mothers taking their children to the park. But as the poem continues it illustrates how dull and boring lives can become. Larkin makes the reader take a second look at their own lives and if the following a depressing routine like these mothers. Larkin’s successful portrayal of this is achieved through his use of effective word choice and symbolism.