International Journal of Research p-I SSN: 2348-6848 e-I SSN: 2348-795X Available at https://edupediapublications.org/journals Vol ume 04 I s s ue 01 Ja nua ry 2017 Elements of Modernity in the Poetry’s Of Philip Larkin- A Critical Study Aasif Rashid Wani Research Scholar, School of Languages, Dept. of English, DAVV Indore M.P (India) Email: [email protected] Abstract Introduction The paper aims at studying elements of Modernity: modernity in the poetry’s of Philip Larkin. The state or quality of being Larkin grew to manhood in the era of modern. Modernity. His poetic job also, which Something modern. begins under modernist control, matures The term Modernity was coined by towards postmodern directions. Thus, Charles Baudelaire in his essay “The Larkin’s poetry, belonging mainly to the Painter of Modern Life” 1864, to explore period of shift from Modernism to the life style of urban metropolis, and the Postmodernism, reflects, from time to responsibility capture that experience. time, modern as well as postmodern Generally, the meaning of modernity is tendencies. Philip Arthur Larkin was an associated with the sweeping changes that poet and novelist. His contribution to The Daily Telegraph as its jazz critic from took place in the society and particularly in the field of literature, between the late 1961 to 1971, articles gathered together in 1950’s and the beginning of Second World All What Jazz: A Record Diary 1961–71 War. (1985) and he edited The Oxford Book of Twentieth Century English Verse (1973). However, no clear elaboration by He was the heir of many honors, including date, and although the term the Queen's Gold Medal for Poetry. He ‘postmodernism’ is increasingly use to was offered, but deny , the position of poet describe changes since the Second World laureate in 1984, following the death of War, there are some people who argue that John Betjeman. modernity persist, and others who see its demise as having occurred much earlier. Key words: Modernity, Era of When modernity explained in terms of modernity,Modernism, Post modernism, history, it said that the world first Available online: https://edupediapublications.org/journals/index.php/IJR/ P a g e | 373 International Journal of Research p-I SSN: 2348-6848 e-I SSN: 2348-795X Available at https://edupediapublications.org/journals Vol ume 04 I s s ue 01 Ja nua ry 2017 experienced renaissance, enlightenment, modern age is also an age of science and modernity and post modernity. technological progress. Adventure and romance and even the peaceful things In a broader way, modernity is associated with the following: seem ruin. Being modern meant hurrying Industrialization and urbanization, through life. The modern world is marked development, democracy, capitalism, by its unprecedented dynamism, its superiority of power, free market, dismissal or marginalizing of tradition, and optimism, rationality, the idea that gaining by its global consequences, time seemed to knowledge of the truth self was the only speed up and space open up. Modernity’s forward - looking thrust relates strongly to foundation for all other knowledge, the search of absolute knowledge in science, belief in progress and the power of human technology, society and politics. Modern reason to produce freedom. literature is characterized chiefly by a Modernists wished to distinguish rejection of 19th-century traditions and of themselves from virtually the entire history their consensus between author and reader. of art and literature. Many Modernist Specifically, Modernists deliberately tried writers felt that every story that could to break away from the conventions of the possibly told, in one way or another, been Victorian era. This separation from 19th told already. Therefore, in order to create century literary and artistic principles is a something new, they often had to try using major part of a broader goal. new forms of writing. The period thus Modernity associated with the produced many experiments. Perhaps best known for such experimentation are few culture and intellectual movements.Modernity is closely related to fiction writers named James Joyce and Virginia Woolf the ethos philosophy, aesthetic modernism, Marxism, Existentialism, modern art and His poems are marked by what formal establishment of social science, this Andrew Motion calls a very English, glum is an age of change and progress, accuracy about emotions, places, and everything is changing. Because of relationships, and what Donald Davie scientific and technological advancement, described as lowered sights and there is a remarkable change in the pattern diminished expectations. Eric Homberger of life in general. People are conscious of called him “the saddest heart in the post- living in a world of rapid change. The war supermarket”—larkin himself said that Available online: https://edupediapublications.org/journals/index.php/IJR/ P a g e | 374 International Journal of Research p-I SSN: 2348-6848 e-I SSN: 2348-795X Available at https://edupediapublications.org/journals Vol ume 04 I s s ue 01 Ja nua ry 2017 deprivation for him was what daffodils Less Deceived, The Whitsun Weddings were for Wordsworth. Larkin is influenced and High Windows, through an by W.H. Auden, W. B. Yeats, and Thomas extraordinary variety of poetic structure Hardy. His poems are highly structured but the sub-themes of unhappiness. The flexible verse forms. Keith Tuma writes following poem MrBleaney, Church that there is more to Larkin's work than its Going, Going Going is all about the reputation for dour pessimism suggestions. modern society which showcases the Larkin’s poetic craftsmanship has been conflicts within the individuals and regarded by several critics as exemplary, society. and has been admired even by those who MrBleaney This poem expresses find his emotional range to be too narrow. the thoughts of Larkin as he depicts the His use of plain language shows his belief rented room of ‘MrBleaney’. In exposing in the importance of tradition, a faith in the the lonely and monotonous life of this people who maintained a contact with the figure, Larkin is unable to criticize as he land, and a suspicion of modern society, sees reflection of his own life. The poem urban development, and technological addresses the key themes of loneliness and advances. Indeed, he stands as the chief the shallowness of human life from the example among his contemporaries of the outset due to modernity. The name line of anti- modernist poetry represented ‘MrBleaney’ as the title itself evokes the by Thomas Hardy and Rudyard Kipling, emotion of insipidness and very for both of whom he had great admiration. monotonous with no strong syllables. Similar to the nature of the room Larkin Philip Larkin is a person who describes, the name has little stimulation. embarrassed with the traditional concept, This monotony is reinforced in the concept and against to modernity. He portrayed the of him renting a ‘room’ as this has little negative impact of modernity through his status in comparison of being an ‘owner’. poem and all of his poems deal with the The theme of the shallowness of existence life of human between birth and death. is present from the clinical nature in which Larkin’s poetry encapsulates the emotional the landlord refers to his death as ‘they challenges modernity poses to individual. moved him’. The use of indifferent Larkin’s own poetry and sociological language to refer to his death shows the theory is good and better to understand little care for the ending of his life. modernity and how it shaped us. In The Available online: https://edupediapublications.org/journals/index.php/IJR/ P a g e | 375 International Journal of Research p-I SSN: 2348-6848 e-I SSN: 2348-795X Available at https://edupediapublications.org/journals Vol ume 04 I s s ue 01 Ja nua ry 2017 “Behind the door, no room In Mr. Bleaney, Larkin delivers for books or the severity of a life hardly lived. The language is drab, similar to the fraying Bags-.” (MrBleaney 11) curtains in the deceased Mr. Belaney’s Modernity has both negative as room. It is evident that Bleaney led a life well as positive connotations within the of loneliness, cyclically humdrum, and society. Through this line poet want to eventually died in his solitude. The poem explore the actual position of a person on is written through the eyes of Bleaney’s who is living in the rented room, people landlord who, after the death of his tenant, have more neediness at present so they takes Bleaney’s place in a similar life of never feel satisfied with what they have so loneliness and monotony. Larkin far. But her Old man MrBleaney still have foreshadows similar demise for the no neediness of big bungalow but he is landlord to that of Bleaney, whose very struggling for basic needs where he can name sounds watery and forgettable. Mr. have sufficient place to keep his baggage Bleaney is a commentary on just how easy and luggage. The lack of pride MrBleaney it is to fall into the trap of monotony. We felt for the room is shown in the deficiency get a very detailed portrait of Mr. Bleaney of home comforts. The upright chair and his job, routine, and lack of interests are no hook behind the door symbolizes the detailed; however, even after the specifics, pragmatic nature ofMrBleaney’slife, he his life remains entirely forgettable. The didn’t make an impression on the room. landlord literally replaces Bleaney and The use of sixty watt bulb reinforces the shows that loneliness and disinterest idea of an eerie glow, evocative of the similar to quicksand are capable of slowly theme of loneliness. The description of the suffocating those who do not expect them.