Philip Larkin

After reading both “This Be the Verse” and “Church Going,” it is hard not to wonder about Larkin’s true motives for writing such poetry.  Both poems speak of political and personal situations that some would or wouldn’t agree with.  As the reader, I do not agree with either main points Larkin is trying to make since he contradicts himself in both poems.  First in “Church Going,” the narrator realizes that as humans we need something to believe in so our questions can be answered; even though, he is obviously against organized religion.  Secondly, in “This Be the Verse,” Larkin tries to connect horrible parents to excuses of also having bad parents.  This train of thought leads to a slippery slope of, “because I had horrible parents, I am going to be a horrible parent, and because I am so will you.”  These ideas are what create monsters, people who only believe they are what they come from lose sight of anything good.  Larkin’s poetry feels like his way of working through ridiculous ideas that have plagued him for a very long time. 

Auden and Social Interaction

In Auden’s poems, “Musee des Beaux Arts” and “In Praise of Limestone” the audience is given a new perspective concerning social interaction.  In the first poem, the reader realizes that our selfish acts are normal for the average person since we believe we are already acting selfless.  Much to my surprise, I would have to agree that I am not aware of others most of the time, and that does indeed make me selfish.  Another way of analyzing life is to think of it in terms of the changes we experience because of social interaction, not the lack of. We were not created to be lonely creatures.  I feel that Auden agrees, but at the same time, he also knows that our differences keep us separated. When life puts everyone in different social situations, some are affected differently than others.  It should be our jobs as people to nurture those wounds or wins that others face daily. 

Auden's Honesty

Reading Auden’s work gives a new perspective on honesty. It is clear that he takes it a little too far since he mocks multiple famous people.  Yes, in both poems centered on Freud and Yeats he gives them subtle compliments, but he is very clearly disagreeing with their views.  He demeans Freud’s intelligence by calling him “clever,” and then makes fun of Yeats magical views.  His writing his honest but cruel at times, however, is it not his job to criticize?  Being famous has its down falls and one is others feel that they have the right to break apart your views on anything important.  For Yeats, his political views were the breaking point for Auden, just like Freud’s medical analysis.  Both had, at the time, outlandish views and Auden was determined to call them out on it. 

Auden

When reading Auden’s work it is ridiculous how life changing a work of literature can be.  When I read “Refugee Blues,” it was so difficult not to become upset, since the meat of the work concerned selfish people who were too self-absorbed to help a fellow person.  I hate that in today’s world everyone is thought of as an outsider.  You cannot help anyone without thinking, “Am I being scammed?”  It is hard to become the person you have always been inspired to become when the world seems dark and unloving.  I think Auden’s biggest issue was with people who lacked love for others because they loved themselves to greatly.  

T. S. Eliot and His Connection With Future Generations

T. S. Eliot has influenced the public for years, because he was not afraid to be honest.  In “The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock,” the audience is given a dilemma that all must face at one point in their life.  A road leading you two directions, while trying to decide which turn to take it is impossible to not refer back to past mistakes.  Although, one of the most important aspects of this poem is that one’s failures are only considered so in their eyes.  No one remembers the little stupid things you do, which you feel have affected others greatly. But since we are human, we are filled with remorse and sadness when confronted with our past actions. This can also be said for “Hollow Men,” which discussed the idea of death.  When I saw death, I mean in the sense of your soul leaving your physical body behind, because really no one is ever fully gone. It is almost like Eliot is coping with a lost as well, which is could explain the pauses in the poem. He has a way of connecting with an audience that is generations ahead, but somehow is able to understand him wholly. 

Psychological Toll

After reading many works this week for class, the central idea that keeps ringing in my mind is psychological treatment in various situations.  For instance, in Stiwell’s “Aubade” we learn that Jane is a servant and her life has no meaning without chores.  She wakes up at dawn and falls asleep at midnight, since she wastes her day waiting on others.  No one thinks of her mental state, because of her status.  Another example of not looking into one’s mental state is Sassoon’s poem, where he writes about the psychological toll that soldiers must endure for the betterment of their country.  All works from this week can be viewed as eye opening because the reader is given multiple types of situations and endings. 

T. S. Eliot

T. S. Eliot is and will always be one of the most influential poet/writer of his time.  An even more accurate statement would be that Eliot was so influential during his life that he left a legacy few will ever challenge.  He was able to influence modern day by only words, and this stems from his work’s originality.  “The Waste Land” was more than a poem; it was the voice of the people.  Yes, it is a more difficult read, but that has no bearing on its importance.  It speaks of a life after war, a war that leads the world to a new age.   Our era would not be as successful as it is without T. S. Eliot and his impactful works.