Larkin's poetry cynically portrays a society in which the proletariat "are deluding themselves" rather than presenting a hopeful picture of a society where "they [go] beyond the limits which society sets for them" To what extent do you agree with this statement? Make close reference to FOUR Larkin poems.
Philip Larkin presents a society where the proletariats are deluding themselves by writing his poems in a way which shows that he is looking down on the proletariats for who they are due to there social class. He suggests that the proletariats are deluding themselves into a sense of false consciousness. This is presented throughout Larkin's poetry through the monotonous tone he uses, which reflects the proletariat lifestyle. The proletariats never go beyond their limits, this is shown this by them being alienated and because they are the working class they have no power to change their social situation.
In four of Larkins poems from the Whitsun weddings collection you can see that he writes all of his poems in a way that suggests the proletariats are deluding themselves. The four poems that I have chosen are 'The Large cool store', 'Here', 'Mr Bleaney' and 'The Whitsun Weddings.' The way that Philip Larkin shows that they are deluding themselves is by showing the monotony of their lives. He does this through the tone he uses in his poems as they are more like stories which makes the poem dull and boring to read. He also makes them seem as if the proletariats are deluding themselves by the language that he uses. For example in 'Here' you can see that he says "workmen at dawn." This suggests that the proletariats are stuck in the cyclical structure of society and are in a constant loop of working and spending. In this same poem it also suggested that they are the working class as he starts his poem of by saying "swerving east, from rich industrial shadows". This presents the idea that the proletariats are exploited by the bourgeoisie, due to capitalism. This also means that they are the base of the superstructure as they are the sense of means of production. He also uses terms such as these in his other poems. Another example is in 'Mr Bleaney,' he says "one hired box." In this poem Mr bleany has just died and Larkin is moving into his utilitarian room as he has power over Mr bleaney as he is the working class. But with him using one hired box it shows that it is all he has to show for his life showing how boring his life is and how miserable he must be. We also see the working class going to work in the morning in 'The Large cool Store.' The line "who leave at dawn", suggests that they are getting up ready to go to work for there unskilled labour as they are the proletariats. Finally we can also see that in ' Whitsun Weddings' they are the working class and they are deluding themselves; this is suggested by "did my three quarter empty train pull out". This demonstrates that they are off to work. With Larkin saying these in his poems it shows how monotonous the proletariats life is and they have it all ordered as they know no different.
From Larkins poems you can also see that the proletariats are deluding themselves and not going beyond there limits because they are not used to anything different and they do not portray what they do. No one argues that they have to go tot work. I believe that they endure their lives and they are passive as they do nothing about it. This is because there life is all set it for them and it is ordered. They have to go to work and then they can go out at in the evenings and at the weekend. Larkin tries to make there life sound much more exciting when it comes to the proletariats going out but it only sounds more exciting than there working day. You can see this in his poem 'whitsun weddings.' He says ' coach party annexes, the wedding days" this shows that the days out that they have are still boring as there still seems to be no happiness that they are going out. But this is also not a very exciting description of them all going out.
Another reason why I believe that all of Larkins poems are bleak and miserable is because he has no real rhythm in his poems. The only rhythm that he has is his rhyming couplets. For example " across and moss." Even these rhyming couplets don't give the poem any rhythm. With his poems having no rhythm it makes it seem like a story and is very boring. The times literary supplement said something about Larkins collection. They said " a sense of order and a sense of waste." This shows that the proletariats have order in there life and that there life's are boring and repetitive.
Larkin shows that the proletariats have a sense of order in there life's. This is shown in ' The Large Cool Store.' Larkin says " set out in simple sizes plainly." This shows that there life is ordered as they have to go to work and then they come back from work with a bit of money and then they can go out in the evening and the weekends and there life is planned.
From analysing and reading Larkins poems I can see that all of his poems are set out all the same as they are just shows to be repetitive and boring life's. But Larkin also shows the working class to be miserable and deluding themselves as Larkin show boring there life is as it is already ordered for them and they have no other choice that working. A Marxist critic may think that the poems are showing a really bad patriarchy society and they will aim to get rid of capitalists. Overall I think that Larkin does represent the proletariats to be boring as all they do is go to work and go out. But I also believe that none of the proletariats bother to go beyond there limits as thy just get on with there life's and do not resist doing something else they just do what they are told and work for the bourgeoisie.
Wednesday 25 November 2015
Monday 23 November 2015
Marx questions
How did Marx and Engels view literature?
Marx and Engels viewed literature as insignificant.
What is the sociology of literature?
sociology of literature is focused on the concerns of itself, which might be called the means of production, distribution and the exchange in the society. It is also to do with the culture. It studies the social production of literature and its social implications. It also has attention to its styles and meanings.
What did Matisse believe about all art?
Matisse commented that all art bears are the imprint of it historical time period. But the great art represents it the most.
What is 'original' about Marxist literary criticism?
The original aspect to Marxism is that it does not consider a historical approach to the literature. But it does give a revolutionary understanding to history itself.
Why is art part of the superstructure?
Art is part of the superstructure because it is a complex element of society's ideology. It effects the social perception which then ensures that the situation is in which one social class powers over another social class. It is either seen by both members of society or nobody at all.
What, according to interpretations of Conrad's work was the crisis facing the Western bourgeois class?
Which four elements make up the levels of 'unity' which Marxist criticism focuses on?
Text
Ideology
Social relations
Productive forces
Marx and Engels viewed literature as insignificant.
What is the sociology of literature?
sociology of literature is focused on the concerns of itself, which might be called the means of production, distribution and the exchange in the society. It is also to do with the culture. It studies the social production of literature and its social implications. It also has attention to its styles and meanings.
What did Matisse believe about all art?
Matisse commented that all art bears are the imprint of it historical time period. But the great art represents it the most.
What is 'original' about Marxist literary criticism?
The original aspect to Marxism is that it does not consider a historical approach to the literature. But it does give a revolutionary understanding to history itself.
Why is art part of the superstructure?
Art is part of the superstructure because it is a complex element of society's ideology. It effects the social perception which then ensures that the situation is in which one social class powers over another social class. It is either seen by both members of society or nobody at all.
What, according to interpretations of Conrad's work was the crisis facing the Western bourgeois class?
Which four elements make up the levels of 'unity' which Marxist criticism focuses on?
Text
Ideology
Social relations
Productive forces
Friday 20 November 2015
Them and[uz]- Tony Harrison
The poem 'Them and [uz]'by Tony Harrison proposes some form of utopian vision as this seems to be a solution to the problems that are encountered in the work place, this is because the upper class steal work from the middle class and the lower class. The upper class then say that the middle and lower classes work is now there's. The upper class have a belief that everyone should speak politely, elegantly and properly. This shows the superstructure due to the class system. Therefore if the lower and middle class do not speak like this the upper class will look down on them. This then infers how alienation is used in the classes and they can not overcome it as they are looked down on. The upper class also believe that nobody should have an accent, this is because they believe it is not speaking properly or elegantly. An example of this from the poem is 'Litterchewer.' This shows that the boy in this poem can not say literature, this is because of his accent. This comes across very patronising as the teacher has to repeat the word and he makes a joke about it. He also suggests that if everyone spoke with proper English language then it would reflect on the utopian vision.
The work that is served as propaganda is by using manipulatation. An example of this is ' poetrys, the speech of kings.' This persuades people to speak properly as it is a bourgeoisie that is speaking correct English language. But the also as hierarchy is the patriarchal society. This may also give them hope as they may feel as if they do speak properly then they may then become highly educated. Becoming highly educated would then mean that they would get a better chance in life and would be able to get a good job. This also links to the superstructure as they need to be educated so that they can get a good job.
This piece of literature reflects the class of his own, this is because he is in the middle class. An example where this happens is 'spoke the language I spoke at home.' This is reflecting his own class as this is how he spoke when he was ta home and he has not changed the way that he speaks. Even when he is at school he does not change the way he speaks, he still doesn't change they way he speaks when some others influence him to. This poem allows us to understand why it reflects his class other than everyone else's. But we also know that the higher class take the lower and middle classes work away from them, they then also make the work in the way that they speak as they are seen to speak perfectly. A famous example of this is that a famous writer had a stutter, this then showed everyone that literature was not made to be spoken perfectly as he still made literature even though he had a stutter.
The boy in this poem overcomes oppression. He does this from his teacher. An example that backs this up is ' used my name and own words.' This shows that he has overcome the cruel behaviour towards him. Despite the negativity that was put on him he still managed to escape the trap that he was in and still became successful. This had a good impact on overcoming oppression as it shows that he managed to get work and then proved to the higher class what literature should really be like. Tony Harrison also overcame oppression as he is a famous writer but he is still not in higher class and he is trapped in middle class.
The work that is served as propaganda is by using manipulatation. An example of this is ' poetrys, the speech of kings.' This persuades people to speak properly as it is a bourgeoisie that is speaking correct English language. But the also as hierarchy is the patriarchal society. This may also give them hope as they may feel as if they do speak properly then they may then become highly educated. Becoming highly educated would then mean that they would get a better chance in life and would be able to get a good job. This also links to the superstructure as they need to be educated so that they can get a good job.
This piece of literature reflects the class of his own, this is because he is in the middle class. An example where this happens is 'spoke the language I spoke at home.' This is reflecting his own class as this is how he spoke when he was ta home and he has not changed the way that he speaks. Even when he is at school he does not change the way he speaks, he still doesn't change they way he speaks when some others influence him to. This poem allows us to understand why it reflects his class other than everyone else's. But we also know that the higher class take the lower and middle classes work away from them, they then also make the work in the way that they speak as they are seen to speak perfectly. A famous example of this is that a famous writer had a stutter, this then showed everyone that literature was not made to be spoken perfectly as he still made literature even though he had a stutter.
The boy in this poem overcomes oppression. He does this from his teacher. An example that backs this up is ' used my name and own words.' This shows that he has overcome the cruel behaviour towards him. Despite the negativity that was put on him he still managed to escape the trap that he was in and still became successful. This had a good impact on overcoming oppression as it shows that he managed to get work and then proved to the higher class what literature should really be like. Tony Harrison also overcame oppression as he is a famous writer but he is still not in higher class and he is trapped in middle class.
Wednesday 11 November 2015
How does Larkin explore ideas of inequality between social classes?
NOTES
Proletariats shop in there but get cheap clothes as they can not afford expensive clothes.
The proletariats make the clothes.
Bourgeoisie owns it and they are very wealthy. They get a percentage of the income but proletariats get a small amount. This keeps them in there social class.
Larkin uses straight forward style of his writing. He is rude may be because of his class.
'Simple sizes plainly' represents that the proletariats are all the same as they are all in the same social class.
all would be equal if we all wear nice clothes.
In this text Larkin explores ideas of inequality between social class as he speaks about being alienated in the social classes and the only way of being un trapped is if they stop working. This is all to do with the superstructure as they have no education as the proletariats that work in The large cool store. They feel as if they are forced to go and work as they just need money so that they can live. But he also discuss the facts that the working class do not have the same rights as the higher class as they are controlled by the higher class and they are exploited in the large cool store.
The title of this text is called 'the large cool store.' The name of this has different meanings. 'cool' could mean that it is cold therefore they are heartless and emotionless. The author may put it like this because it shows that the bourgeoisie is heartless as they make the proletariats work. The other meaning that it could have is that it is "cool" and they look good. This mans that they are trying to make people think the store is good. We can also see that the bourgeoisie has hegemony over the proletariats as they have control over all of the proletariats that work. The base of the superstructure is also used as the proletariats resemble the means of production. We can see this as the proletariats have to get up early and go to work. A quote that supports this is 'who leave at dawn. This shows that they have to wake up early, then leave fore work and work hard whilst the bourgeoisies boss them around. They are also alienated in the working class as they are isolated and they can not leave there work as they are not at strong financial point.
In the text The Large Cool Store, Larkin explores ideas of inequality between the different social classes. He does this by using an easy structure. This is done because it reflects the monotonous life's of proletariats in a capitalised society. For example the basic rhyme scheme of ABABAB, this then shows how dull and boring those peoples life's are. An example of this is 'clothes... plainly... hose...navy.' This shows inequality between the social classes because it demonstrates how the bourgeoisie controls the proletariat through there repetitive life's and the sense of false consciousness.
Larkin is middle class in the social system. this shows through the work by the fact that the "the large cool store" is in reference to middle class shops like Marks and Spencer's. This illustrates that Larkin acknowledges the fact that a proletariat lifestyle is to work and then spend. Something that he can relate to as he is a proletariat himself. ' set out in simple sizes plainly.' This shows that they are all simple and plain and they are all the same.
The work in this text supports the economic and status quo because Larkin refers to how the proletariats live in society and how they are alienated through consumerism in the society which then makes them think that they can only feel good about themselves in the clothes of the bourgeoisie. The text supports this with the line 'synthetic, new and naturless in ecstasies.' This shows that men and women want to be fake and that they want to mascaraed as something that they are not but they believe themselves to be.
The class system plays a big role in work. This is because the proletariat are working for the bourgeoisie as they are the working class. The class also shows that the lower class have to work so that they can afford to go out. But the bourgeoisie just boss around the proletariats telling them what they are supposed to be doing. Therefore this shows the class system as there higher class have power over the lower and working class. Larkin has presented the work with a class system because that may be how he feels as he is the middle class. A quote that supports this would be ' dawn low terraced houses.' This shows that it is the morning and they are going to go and do unskilled labour for the bourgeoisie so that he can earn lots of money and be rich, whilst the proletariats earn little money and work really hard. Then they are only able to afford to be able to go out at night and that's it. This shows that there is a class system in the work place.
The work is seen as propaganda as they make it seem as if working is good and exciting, but it actually isn't they are just being exploited by the bourgeoisie. But they also use propaganda as they make it seem ;like now you've got money you will be able to go out. But Larkin describes them going out and the mood seems to change as they are all happy and it is colourful. A quote that supports this is ' Lemon, sapphire, moss- green, rose Bri- nylon baby- dolls and shorties flounce in clusters.' This shows that it is colourful at night time as they all dress up to go out. It also shows that there life is only exciting at night when they are not working. therefore they use propaganda as Larkin has set an image that it is colourful when they go out and they can only go out because they have worked.
The role that class pays in work is that proletariats live in 'low terrace houses' this means that they have small houses and they are run down as they are doing unskilled labour and they do not get paid very much. But they still go and spend there money even if it is on clothes or going out drinking. This is due to materialism and consumerism. They believe that they will be better people if they have nice clothes and dress well.
The author demonstrates how the bourgeoisie and the proletariats both want to make money. But the bourgeoisie are already rich therefore they have power over the working class. But the bourgeoisie can also force the proletariats to make things especially clothes because if they did not make these then they would not be able to survive as they would not have any money. 'timed for factory, yard and site.' This shows that they go to work to earn money and they are forced to get up early for there unskilled work. As the proletariats are forced to work and make the clothes the bourgeoisie is just planning on selling them back to them when they buy them. But because of materialism nobody questions it as they think that is the normal and it is all okay. This shows a sense of false consciousness because they are desperate to be rich so they just work.
The characters do not overcome oppression this is because they are stuck in there social cycle. As they can not escape as they would not be able to survive with no money. But if they do get out of that social class then they will just get trapped into another social class and they will then be in the same situation again. The only way that they are able to escape is if they stop working. This is shown by the women at the end of this text as they are shown to be wearing bright colours. This shows that there life is much happier and brighter whilst they are nit working or stuck in there social class cycle. The quote that shows this is ' lemon, sapphire, moss green.' This shows that there clothes are now brighter as they are not working and there is no social class as they have escaped.
The work does not propose a utopian vision. This is because they believe that if you wear nice clothes then you will be seen to be as a bourgeoisie. But that is not necessarily true that is just what they believed. 'heaps of shirts and trousers.' This shows that men only have one thing to wear and it shows that men are calm as they do not mind that there clothes are not neat. But society is actually the opposite due to the capitalist society. There is nobody that is free in the society as they are all trapped in there social classes.
This piece of literature does show that it reflects the authors class because he was middle class and it also reflects his attitude as he hated women. This shows that he is a misogynist as he had bad views about women. It reflects his own class as he is also part of the class that he writes about therefore he is talking about possibly his own problems that he has.
To conclude in this text Larkin explores many different ideas about inequality between social classes. This is done by using gender as a problem but also the fact that the bourgeoisies force the proletariats to work but they all have a simple and repetitive life.
Proletariats shop in there but get cheap clothes as they can not afford expensive clothes.
The proletariats make the clothes.
Bourgeoisie owns it and they are very wealthy. They get a percentage of the income but proletariats get a small amount. This keeps them in there social class.
Larkin uses straight forward style of his writing. He is rude may be because of his class.
'Simple sizes plainly' represents that the proletariats are all the same as they are all in the same social class.
all would be equal if we all wear nice clothes.
In this text Larkin explores ideas of inequality between social class as he speaks about being alienated in the social classes and the only way of being un trapped is if they stop working. This is all to do with the superstructure as they have no education as the proletariats that work in The large cool store. They feel as if they are forced to go and work as they just need money so that they can live. But he also discuss the facts that the working class do not have the same rights as the higher class as they are controlled by the higher class and they are exploited in the large cool store.
The title of this text is called 'the large cool store.' The name of this has different meanings. 'cool' could mean that it is cold therefore they are heartless and emotionless. The author may put it like this because it shows that the bourgeoisie is heartless as they make the proletariats work. The other meaning that it could have is that it is "cool" and they look good. This mans that they are trying to make people think the store is good. We can also see that the bourgeoisie has hegemony over the proletariats as they have control over all of the proletariats that work. The base of the superstructure is also used as the proletariats resemble the means of production. We can see this as the proletariats have to get up early and go to work. A quote that supports this is 'who leave at dawn. This shows that they have to wake up early, then leave fore work and work hard whilst the bourgeoisies boss them around. They are also alienated in the working class as they are isolated and they can not leave there work as they are not at strong financial point.
In the text The Large Cool Store, Larkin explores ideas of inequality between the different social classes. He does this by using an easy structure. This is done because it reflects the monotonous life's of proletariats in a capitalised society. For example the basic rhyme scheme of ABABAB, this then shows how dull and boring those peoples life's are. An example of this is 'clothes... plainly... hose...navy.' This shows inequality between the social classes because it demonstrates how the bourgeoisie controls the proletariat through there repetitive life's and the sense of false consciousness.
Larkin is middle class in the social system. this shows through the work by the fact that the "the large cool store" is in reference to middle class shops like Marks and Spencer's. This illustrates that Larkin acknowledges the fact that a proletariat lifestyle is to work and then spend. Something that he can relate to as he is a proletariat himself. ' set out in simple sizes plainly.' This shows that they are all simple and plain and they are all the same.
The work in this text supports the economic and status quo because Larkin refers to how the proletariats live in society and how they are alienated through consumerism in the society which then makes them think that they can only feel good about themselves in the clothes of the bourgeoisie. The text supports this with the line 'synthetic, new and naturless in ecstasies.' This shows that men and women want to be fake and that they want to mascaraed as something that they are not but they believe themselves to be.
The class system plays a big role in work. This is because the proletariat are working for the bourgeoisie as they are the working class. The class also shows that the lower class have to work so that they can afford to go out. But the bourgeoisie just boss around the proletariats telling them what they are supposed to be doing. Therefore this shows the class system as there higher class have power over the lower and working class. Larkin has presented the work with a class system because that may be how he feels as he is the middle class. A quote that supports this would be ' dawn low terraced houses.' This shows that it is the morning and they are going to go and do unskilled labour for the bourgeoisie so that he can earn lots of money and be rich, whilst the proletariats earn little money and work really hard. Then they are only able to afford to be able to go out at night and that's it. This shows that there is a class system in the work place.
The work is seen as propaganda as they make it seem as if working is good and exciting, but it actually isn't they are just being exploited by the bourgeoisie. But they also use propaganda as they make it seem ;like now you've got money you will be able to go out. But Larkin describes them going out and the mood seems to change as they are all happy and it is colourful. A quote that supports this is ' Lemon, sapphire, moss- green, rose Bri- nylon baby- dolls and shorties flounce in clusters.' This shows that it is colourful at night time as they all dress up to go out. It also shows that there life is only exciting at night when they are not working. therefore they use propaganda as Larkin has set an image that it is colourful when they go out and they can only go out because they have worked.
The role that class pays in work is that proletariats live in 'low terrace houses' this means that they have small houses and they are run down as they are doing unskilled labour and they do not get paid very much. But they still go and spend there money even if it is on clothes or going out drinking. This is due to materialism and consumerism. They believe that they will be better people if they have nice clothes and dress well.
The author demonstrates how the bourgeoisie and the proletariats both want to make money. But the bourgeoisie are already rich therefore they have power over the working class. But the bourgeoisie can also force the proletariats to make things especially clothes because if they did not make these then they would not be able to survive as they would not have any money. 'timed for factory, yard and site.' This shows that they go to work to earn money and they are forced to get up early for there unskilled work. As the proletariats are forced to work and make the clothes the bourgeoisie is just planning on selling them back to them when they buy them. But because of materialism nobody questions it as they think that is the normal and it is all okay. This shows a sense of false consciousness because they are desperate to be rich so they just work.
The characters do not overcome oppression this is because they are stuck in there social cycle. As they can not escape as they would not be able to survive with no money. But if they do get out of that social class then they will just get trapped into another social class and they will then be in the same situation again. The only way that they are able to escape is if they stop working. This is shown by the women at the end of this text as they are shown to be wearing bright colours. This shows that there life is much happier and brighter whilst they are nit working or stuck in there social class cycle. The quote that shows this is ' lemon, sapphire, moss green.' This shows that there clothes are now brighter as they are not working and there is no social class as they have escaped.
The work does not propose a utopian vision. This is because they believe that if you wear nice clothes then you will be seen to be as a bourgeoisie. But that is not necessarily true that is just what they believed. 'heaps of shirts and trousers.' This shows that men only have one thing to wear and it shows that men are calm as they do not mind that there clothes are not neat. But society is actually the opposite due to the capitalist society. There is nobody that is free in the society as they are all trapped in there social classes.
This piece of literature does show that it reflects the authors class because he was middle class and it also reflects his attitude as he hated women. This shows that he is a misogynist as he had bad views about women. It reflects his own class as he is also part of the class that he writes about therefore he is talking about possibly his own problems that he has.
To conclude in this text Larkin explores many different ideas about inequality between social classes. This is done by using gender as a problem but also the fact that the bourgeoisies force the proletariats to work but they all have a simple and repetitive life.
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