"This Be the Verse" is a poem by Philip Larkin that reflects on the negative aspects of human nature and the ways in which we pass these traits down to future generations. The poem begins with the line "They fuck you up, your mum and dad," which immediately sets a tone of cynicism and resignation. The poem goes on to describe how parents inevitably inflict their own flaws and weaknesses upon their children, shaping their personalities and behaviors in ways that can be difficult to overcome.
One of the main themes of "This Be the Verse" is the idea that we are all doomed to repeat the mistakes of our ancestors. The poem suggests that no matter how hard we try, we will inevitably fall victim to the same patterns of behavior that have plagued humanity for centuries. This is a bleak and depressing perspective, but it is also one that is grounded in reality. We all carry within us the legacy of our ancestors, whether we are aware of it or not, and this legacy can shape our actions and decisions in ways that are beyond our control.
Another theme of the poem is the idea that our flaws and weaknesses are an inherent part of our nature. Larkin writes that "they may not mean to, but they do," suggesting that even our best intentions can be undermined by our own flawed natures. This idea is deeply unsettling, as it suggests that we are all essentially helpless in the face of our own fallibility. We can try to be good and do the right thing, but we will always be limited by the flaws that are a part of who we are.
Despite its bleak themes, "This Be the Verse" is a powerful and poignant poem that speaks to the universal experience of being human. It reminds us that we are all imperfect and that we all carry within us the legacy of our ancestors. It also serves as a cautionary tale, reminding us that we must be mindful of the ways in which we pass our flaws and weaknesses down to future generations. Ultimately, "This Be the Verse" is a reminder that we are all in this together, and that we are all bound by the same frailties and limitations.
Analysis
If you buy a book by clicking on one of these links I receive a small commission. In the final line, Larkin argues that the best course of action for the reader would be to break the cycle of damage by deciding not to have any children of their own. The song was first published on her 1987 album Hopeless Cases. Fuentes continues her quest to remake the hospital in her vision; Max goes the extra mile to help a patient in need; Dr. Or does the unrefined speech indicate that the poet is ignorant and uncouth and knows no better? Is Larkin simply saying that parents ruin their children? They fuck you up, your mum and dad. The first stanza focuses on the individual, the next on the individual and extended family, the third on humanity as a whole.
This Be The Verse by Philip Larkin
The poetic équivalence of kicking the cat. The citation above will include either 2 or 3 dates. My parents died at 60. The second is the date of publication online or last modification online. Lord Justice Wall referred to the emotional damage caused to the child, saying: "These four lines seem to me to give a clear warning to parents who, post-separation, continue to fight the battles of the past, and show each other no respect.
Philip Larkin
But they were fucked up in their turn By fools in old-style hats and coats, Who half the time were soppy-stern And half at one another's throats. Retrieved 21 October 2019. In this way, the casual language actually builds trust between the poet and the reader. I think Larkin would not like to be taken this seriously. Or, is he stating, through a sarcastic, humurous declaration that parents will mess up their children inevitably that man will always be imperfect, never allowing for improvement in the world? Copyright © Estate of Philip Larkin. The popularity of the poem demonstrates the level of respect that Larkin achieved as a poet during his lifetime.
Anne Clark
The second date is today's date — the date you are citing the material. Some of these links are my affiliate links. Go on as loving as you can, And make your kids just like yourself. The title is an allusion to Robert Louis Stephenson's, "Requiem" especially line 5, "This be the verse you grave for me" UNDER the wide and starry sky Dig the grave and let me lie: Glad did I live and gladly die, And I laid me down with a will. The third stanza is where the poem makes its assertion: the misery humanity experiences is a cycle that expands continuously.
This Be The Verse Poem Summary and Analysis
Man hands on happiness to man. Retrieved 16 April 2019. Does the apple fall far from the tree? The poem is about genetic inheritance and upbringing, what we inherit and what we pass on. The last stanza's opening line, "man hands on misery to man" reveals the ultimate theme of the poem. The speaker concludes with some advice: "Get out as early as you can. They mean to and by God they do. This poem was written after Larkin had been spending what was probably an over-long holiday with her in Loughborough — did all the little accumulating irritations drive him to write this verse? In the second stanza, the speaker goes back in time.
This Be the Verse Summary
. Retrieved 24 April 2021. I just learned of this poem today referenced in a Vanity Fair article on Christopher Buckley's new memoir, "Losing Mum and Pup. And perhaps its message is, in the end, a positive one — if none of our faults are actually our own fault, then why should we have any sense of responsibility to change or better ourselves? Sharpe and Iggy find themselves at odds over a serious issue. The ABAB rhyme scheme is almost like a nursery rhyme and nursery rhymes are often violent. This be the verse you grave for me: Here lies where he longed to be; Home is the sailor, home from the sea, And the hunter home from the hill.
Philip Larkin & 'This Be the Verse'
Every time I read the poem, I can imagine child social workers nodding their heads. Later in the poem, when Larkin shifts his focus to the human condition in general, the pace slows down. Larkin uses various tools to further this effect. Cite this page as follows: "This Be the Verse - Analysis" eNotes Publishing Ed. Not a particularly cheery take on human existence, perhaps, but delivered with the usual Larkinesque wit. This article needs additional citations for Please help Find sources: · · · · September 2015 "This Be The Verse" is a lyric poem in three verses of long measure with an alternating rhyme scheme, by the English poet It is one of Larkin's best-known poems; the opening lines "They fuck you up, your mum and dad" are among his most frequently quoted. The lines are composed in a neat iambic tetrameter, and the alternating rhyme scheme of ABAB is followed carefully in all three stanzas.
