Sunny Prestatyn Larkin

With reference to three poems studied so far discuss how Larkin presents the theme of illusion and reality.

The poems Sunny Prestatyn, Essential Beauty and love Songs in Age, are all presented with the theme of illusion and reality. Illusion is a false impression or delusion, so when an illusion is used within a poem there is a deeper meaning or reality behind the words. Because of this reality, the reader can see what Larkin is really trying to convey in the poems is shown and we understand what was meant by the illusion

In the poem Sunny Prestatyn, Larkin uses harsh reality to show the depth of the illusion. In the poem we are presented with a sunny, picturesque and idealistic scene on a billboard, with a pretty girl asking you to
‘She was slapped up one day in March.' This harsh sentence shows the reality of the world and that vandalism was expected. ‘A couple of weeks and her face was snaggle-toothed', this flippant remark also suggests casualness about the violence. The violence of the girl in the picture being disfigured also represents the illusion being destroyed. The readers know that the picture originally presented was the standard ideal and the vandalism shows what Prestatyn would be realistically. Larkin goes on to present the theme of reality more by using harsh, blunt and hard words to show realism, ‘snaggled-toothed, boss-eyed, tits'. Larkin emphasises the reality and harshness by using crude language, he writes ‘…a fissured crotch'. He also notes that this was ‘…well scored in'. This illustrates the maliciousness of the vandalism. This also represents the strong feelings of Larkin and the importance of reality. Larkin uses more harsh language, ‘…tuberous cock and balls'. This vulgar language spoils the illusion
Larkin shows the illusion of advertisement by writing ‘Of how life should be'. This is quite ironic as its not how life is or how it should be, but how life is presented to the buyers to delude them into thinking that by buying the product they will gain the perfect family, home and job. This illusion is emphasised, ‘Well balanced families, in fine midsummer weather', this also shows the illusion of the perfect 2.4 children family. Larkin goes on to say that this happiness and pleasure is owed ‘to that small cube in each hand'. This small cube is perceived as an oxo cube. This once again shows that the illusion of advertisement cons people into buying the product to gain a good life. These images are all pastoral images and add to the illusion created. Larkin writes ‘slippers on warm mats, reflect none of the rained on streets and squares'. This tells us that the advertising illusions don't reflect anything they promise or what is shown and that it is a different world. In the first stanza Larkin presents us with idealistic images to convince us of this illusion that's sheltering us from the real