Wires by Philip Larkin
WIRES
Wires by Philip Larkin is an analogy of a society trapped by rules and limits and a demonstration that fear prevents humankind from following their desires. Larkin writes this poem in 1950 with the idea of showing his point of view of the world. In the poem the cattles are trapped by the wires imposed, preventing them from ever reaching their search for purer water. He shows that the world offers no hope nor mercy whatsoever in their trial for escape. What the poet is actually trying to express is the theme of youth against old and the boundaries that the world presents. Both mentioned have no escape but the difference is that the young generation does not realize it and life disappoints them in their attempt of searching for their hopes. This poem is said to be a fable as the animals, "cattle" and "steers", are used to represent the people in a society "widest prairies" that searches for imaginary dreams and hopes symbolized with "purer water". The world is governed by rules, laws and norms that are sometimes painful as the wires are to the cattles in this poem. Larkin presents the theme of violence "muscle-shredding" to emphasize the harshness of life. He tries to demonstrate how the real world functions and that life can sometimes be disappointing. The young cattles are in constant search for something better and don't want to stay in a world that places barriers for them. They want to escape, to explore the outside world, even if they get hurt in their attempt to surpass the barriers "leads the to blunder up against the wires whose muscle-shredding violence gives no quarter". This motivation in the youth contrasts the older generation that has gotten used and accepted their place and the limits imposed upon them. They are accustomed to their limits and do not feel they are trapped, so are not in constant search for an escape. They have reached their comfort level in a world whose rules they have accepted. Moreover, there is a
Wires by Philip Larkin is an analogy of a society trapped by rules and limits and a demonstration that fear prevents humankind from following their desires. Larkin writes this poem in 1950 with the idea of showing his point of view of the world. In the poem the cattles are trapped by the wires imposed, preventing them from ever reaching their search for purer water. He shows that the world offers no hope nor mercy whatsoever in their trial for escape. What the poet is actually trying to express is the theme of youth against old and the boundaries that the world presents. Both mentioned have no escape but the difference is that the young generation does not realize it and life disappoints them in their attempt of searching for their hopes. This poem is said to be a fable as the animals, "cattle" and "steers", are used to represent the people in a society "widest prairies" that searches for imaginary dreams and hopes symbolized with "purer water". The world is governed by rules, laws and norms that are sometimes painful as the wires are to the cattles in this poem. Larkin presents the theme of violence "muscle-shredding" to emphasize the harshness of life. He tries to demonstrate how the real world functions and that life can sometimes be disappointing. The young cattles are in constant search for something better and don't want to stay in a world that places barriers for them. They want to escape, to explore the outside world, even if they get hurt in their attempt to surpass the barriers "leads the to blunder up against the wires whose muscle-shredding violence gives no quarter". This motivation in the youth contrasts the older generation that has gotten used and accepted their place and the limits imposed upon them. They are accustomed to their limits and do not feel they are trapped, so are not in constant search for an escape. They have reached their comfort level in a world whose rules they have accepted. Moreover, there is a