The Whitsun Weddings by Philip Larkin summary and analysis

 

The poem begins with the speaker recounting a Whitsun, the holy day when he was delayed in starting his journey. The specific time and day add a sense of detail, placing the event in a specific moment and emphasizing the brightness of the day. The speaker boards a train that is mostly empty, indicating a less crowded journey. The description of the train's atmosphere highlights the warmth and openness, creating a real atmosphere.  The sense of urgency or hurry disappears as the journey unfolds, creating a more relaxed atmosphere.

The train travels behind residential areas and crosses streets, offering glimpses of ordinary life. The journey takes the train past a fish-dock, engaging the senses with the smell of the sea and the visual of windscreens. The train follows the course of a river, marking a change in the landscape and creating a sense of continuity. The imagery captures the convergence of sky, land (Lincolnshire), and water, emphasizing the vastness and beauty of the landscape.

The journey continues in the afternoon, characterized by a tranquil and warm atmosphere. The train follows a gradual curve southwards, meandering through the landscape. The speaker observes the passing scenery, including expansive farms and cattle casting short shadows. Industrial elements, like froth on canals, are interwoven with rural imagery, highlighting the blend of nature and industry. The train passes a distinctive hothouse, suggesting glimpses of human cultivation amid the natural landscape. The sensory experience is heightened with the smell of grass, evoking a connection to the natural world.

 

The fresh smell of grass replaces the confined odor of the buttoned carriage-cloth, symbolizing a shift towards nature. The train moves through a new and ordinary town, emphasizing the routine nature of such stops. The town is described by the presence of dismantled cars, suggesting a sense of decay or disrepair. The speaker initially doesn't realize the significance of the noise created by the weddings at each station. The weddings at the stations become a significant aspect of the journey, with the sun diminishing the interest in what's happening in the shade. The noise and celebrations of the weddings, represented by whoops and skirls ( shrill and shrieks), become pronounced on the platforms. Initially, the speaker mistakes the noise for porters engaging in playful activities. He continues his reading and other activities.

 

As the train moves, the speaker observes the wedding parties with their happy expressions, suggesting a momentary encounter with joy. The wedding attendees are described in exaggerated or parodied fashion, wearing heels and veils, and observing the passing train. The wedding attendees appear as if waving goodbye to an event that has concluded. The speaker is struck by this realization. The speaker leans out more promptly and observes the weddings with a heightened curiosity, viewing them differently. Descriptions of the wedding attendees include fathers with broad belts, mothers who are loud and fat, adding a touch of realism. Specific details of the wedding attire, including perms, nylon gloves, and unconventional colors, create a vivid and somewhat humorous portrayal. The unusual colors and accessories mark the girls as distinct, almost unreal, from the rest of the crowd. The speaker notes the various elements associated with weddings, including cafés, banquet halls, and bunting-dressed coach-party annexes. He observes that the wedding days are concluding.

 

The scene shifts to fresh couples boarding the train, while others stand around. The final moments of the weddings involve the throwing of confetti (small bits of brightly colored paper) and advice. The departing train prompts different reactions: children frown at something dull, fathers reflect on a success, and others respond uniquely. The speaker describes the varied responses to the weddings, ranging from a sense of farcical success to a shared secret among women, and the curious stares of girls. The train moves away from the wedding scenes, symbolizing freedom from the celebrations. Fields transform into building-plots, and poplars cast shadows over major roads. The passing scenery reflects the changing nature of the journey.

The newlywed couples on the train observe the passing landscape together. The mention of an Odeon (a cinema), a cooling tower, and someone running to bowl suggests ordinary scenes. The emphasis on individual experiences hints at the separation between the passengers.

The train is directed toward London, depicted as "bright knots of rail." Passing Pullman cars and walls of blackened moss evoke a sense of movement and approaching the destination. The use of "frail" suggests the transient nature of the journey.

The slowing down of the train brings about a sense of falling, symbolized by an arrow-shower becoming rain. This imagery suggests a transition or transformation, emphasizing the impact of change.

Philip Larkin's The Whitsun Weddings captures the poet's intense observation skill and reflective perspective on a train journey brimming with the scenes of Whitsun weddings.

Larkin excels in capturing the details of ordinary life. The poem is grounded in observational realism, presenting the real snapshots of the landscapes, people, and events during the train journey.

 

The weddings serve as a symbolic backdrop, representing a universal and recurring event. They mark the cyclical nature of life, emphasizing how individuals embark on new beginnings.

Larkin introduces characters with specific qualities and flaws, such as fathers with broad belts, loud mothers, and an uncle shouting smut. These details add humor and a touch of realism to the portrayal of the wedding attendees.

The poem explores the transience of moments and the inevitability of change. The train journey becomes a metaphor for life's journey, marked by fleeting encounters, departures, and transformations.

The poem concludes with a sense of falling, described as an "arrow-shower becoming rain." This symbolizes the transformative power of change and suggests that something new will emerge from the descending moments.