Introduction of the Poem:
The poem entitled “Poetry of Departures” is an autobiographical poem describing the life of an office worker. The life of a modern office - worker is sober and industrious. In contrast to this life, there are many people in an industrial society, even those who have some sort of security and good earnings, who dream of getting away from it all and living more adventurously. In the poem, the desire to break the monotony of routine life is evident here. The poet presents a fact that we naturally detest home and that we instinctively revolt against the idea of getting penned there. The ironical paradox is that though home is considered a safe and cosily comfortable place catering to the needs of a person and protecting him from the elemental furies, strangely he finds it repugnant to his spirit of freedom. In the poem, the poet realises the futility of such renunciation. He thinks that the act of renunciation is only an escape from an industrious life of this materialistic world. Those who find themselves unable to fulfil the household responsibilities, choose the way of renunciation or a saintly life. Finally the poet badly condemns the life of renunciation.
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| Philip Larkin | Poetry of Departure | Summary and Critical Appreciation | |
Summary of the Poem:
Occasionally news is heard from someone through the rumour that a certain person has discarded the life of worldly pleasures and has accepted a saintly life. His kicking away the life of worldly pleasure is in fact a very daring action. Renunciation is a very difficult and impossible task, so the news of the renunciation becomes sensational news for those who remain in his contact. This news spreads quickly. Whosoever comes to hear this news, is greatly astonished, and appreciates the man who has showed great courage in renouncing his worldly possession, social and domestic life. Turning one's back upon home and the material comforts associated with it, requires a great deal of courage, so the poet describes it audacious step. The life of a recluse who sacrifices the worldly life and material comforts has been ever held as a purifying act. It is an act of self - denial and self - mortification and hence a means of purifying one's soul. This act of renunciation also requires great mental strength. One who renounces this worldly life has to be a stony hearted man because he breaks his relationship with his friends, relatives and family. A recluse has to lead a lonely life. The poet also approves the act of renunciation of certain man. The poet also observes that every man craves for freedom because freedom is a basic element in human nature. Sometimes this natural element in human nature provokes man to lead a life of a wanderer or a recluse.
The poet also approves the renunciation of a certain man because in his opinion it is an act of great courage. It requires enormous mental strength. The basic element of freedom in human nature is extently responsible to provoke him to renounce the worldly pleasures and lead a saintly life. When the people appreciate the man's action of renouncing the worldly joys and pleasures, they are right to do so. The poet observes that nobody can stay in his house for a long time. No one likes the life of confinement. Everyone craves for a life of liberty. The poet too does not like to be confined to his room. He too craves to live a life of wanderer. Although his room is well furnished and well equipped with the things of luxuries, which he has chosen with great care, yet he thinks that he is living a monotonous life in his comfortable room. The poet has made a great heap of the things of luxuries but they seem to him only the rubbish. For him, these things have no importance. He has made a collection of good and entertaining books. He has a comfortable bed to sleep in. But in spite of all this, he is greatly fed up with his present life. He hates this room even though he is leading an orderly kind of life. It is said that due to being bachelor, the poet feels highly dejected and loneliness in his room.
When the poet hears that a certain person has renounced his worldly, social and domestic life and has gone away to lead a saint like life, he (the poet) is fairly excited and thrilled. In fact, to turn back from the worldly pleasures and comforts is a very impossible task, yet the certain man succeeded to do this daring action. A long separation from one's dearers and nearers is very sorrowful, but the certain man is the glaring example. He is a true embodiment of renunciation. The poet feels so much excited to hear about this renunciation as he would feel when someone depicts to him a woman who undresses or disrobes herself in a gradual way. Next, such excitement he would feel when he is called bastard by someone or he is spoken to in a very offensive manner. On hearing the news of the certain person's renunciation, the poet also thinks to follow the way of the certain person. He too shows his craving for such a saintly life. He says that he can also show the same courage as the certain person has showed. But later on he changes his attitude. He realises the futility of such renunciation. He thinks that the act of renunciation is only an escape from an industrious life of this physical world. After being conscious, he becomes all the more encouraged to stay on where he is and to continue doing the same work. He wants to remain industrious as usual. He comes to know the fact that his salvation lies in working hard as usual.
A sort of mental conflict goes on in poet's mind. He thinks whether he should run away from his present life in order to live a life of wanderer or a sailor or stay at the same place. In the beginning the poet approves the idea of going away after giving up everything. He thinks that he may lead a life of an escapist. But the realisation of the futility of such a move, keeps him sane, sober and industrious as usual. He thinks that to live an industrious life in this strugglesome world is better than lead a saint like life. Man can easily surrender before the difficulties and obstacles of the world, but it is very difficult to face them boldly. Social or domestic life is not easier. To fulfil the worldly responsibility is a task or act of great courage. The poet thinks that renunciation is the last option to flee away from the worldly responsibilities. The poet observes that the way of life in this physical world is not easier one. But man, instead of being disappointed, should walk on this way with confidence. Man can go about his usual work with confidence and self-satisfaction. The poet advises that man must realise his worth and importance. So the poet has two alternative lives either running away from it all or sticking to it. He turns to the life of industry. He thinks that if he needs peace and consolation, he can go into the shelter of solitude. He can find out solitude in his social and domestic life. Two kinds of solitude are implicitly compared - chucking away everything and going into the shell of recluse, far away from the crowd's ignoble strife, and the other, a life of solitude within the society. He prefers the latter, because it was the kind of the life he was living before he was momentarily seized by the irrational desire to kick away his orderly life. The poet thinks that if he wants to write a book or to manufacture some beautiful thing, he can go in solitude where he cannot be disturbed by anyone.
Critical Appreciation of the Poem:
Introduction:
The poem entitled Poetry of Departure is an autobiographical poem depicting the life of an office worker. It contains a kind of debate between two opposed points of view. It is an argumentative poem. It is more intellectual than emotional. It conveys the idea that it is an illusory thought to cherish that some kind of alternative and at that a satisfactory and comforting alternative, can be found to the kind of conventional, humdrum life which we lead at present. The poem is akin to Toads which discusses the poet's ambivalent attitude to a regular salaried job which sustains his life and to the freedom from the drudgery entailed by his routine calling. He plumps for the security and benefits that accrue from the job. The argument at the end of the poem is unusual and interesting. It seems to be that conformity is more desirable than arbitrary and unthought out originality.
Thought - Content:
In poet's opinion, Renunciation is a very difficult and impossible task. So when the news of someone's renunciation is heard, it becomes sensational news. Whosoever comes to hear this news is greatly astonished. Such kind of hews of renunciation gets great approval of the people. Everyone appreciates the man who has showed great courage in renouncing his worldly possession, social and domestic life: The poet also approves the daring act of the certain man. The poet thinks that such act requires great mental strength. The poet observes that nobody can stay in his house for a long time. The poet too does not like to be confined to his room. He has made a great heap of things of luxuries but they seem to him only the rubbish. On hearing the news of the certain person's renunciation, he also thinks to follow the same way. But later on he realises the futility of such renunciation. He comes to know the fact that his salvation lies in working hard as usual. He thinks that to live an industrious life in this strugglesome world is better than lead a saintly life.
Element of Irony:
The poem is highly ironical. It is regarded as a wistful, self - mocking joke about the dream of freedom out of the echoes from the melodrama of everyday speech:
“He chucked up everything
And just cleard off.”
The notion that we can gain liberation by throwing away our present way of life and by trying to choose a vaguely imaginative alternative is chimerical. The double irony lies in romanticising a new imaginary life to evade our responsibilities and at the same time in his attack on the poet's own ‘ordered life’ which is ‘Reprehensibly perfect’. Even perfection is something disagreeable and dreadful. Irony becomes incisive when he (the poet) includes good books and the good bed in the junk. It is paradoxical that the good books and good bed are considered junk. Irony becomes biting when he regards his life in perfect order as junk. ‘Junk’ and ‘perfect order’ are in oxymoronic contrast which sharpens the irony. Irony becomes sharper, more incisive when he classifies the books which are the main source of his sustenance, among the junk. There is both humour and irony in the contrasting pictures of the unshaven, romantic, runaway sailor and the clean - shaven, hypocritical, white collar worker.
Form, Style and Language:
The poem is written in colloquial style. The very opening line is an example of that kind of style:
“Sometimes you hear, fifth hand ...”
“And they are right, I think.”
In fact, the whole of the poem is written in conversational style. The fewest possible words are used by him to express an idea, and sometimes even the syntax is sacrificed for the sake of economy. As in many other poems, here too the stanza is not observed as a separate unit in a poem. For instance, the last line of the second stanza runs into the first line of the next stanza:
“So to hear it said.”
“He walked out on the whole crowd.”
The epithet ‘audacious’ implies the thoughtlessness of the action and also the poet's disapproval of such action.
