Summary
Philip Larkin's poem "Dockery and Son" explores themes of self-reflection and the passage of time through the lens of an unnamed speaker, who embodies Larkin's characteristic persona of someone who's been overlooked by life. A chance conversation with a college dean prompts the speaker to reminisce about his past, reflecting on choices made and opportunities missed. Through these reflections, the poem delves into the stark contrast between the speaker's solitary life and the more conventional path taken by Dockery, a younger peer with a son now attending the same college.
The Recollection Begins
The poem sets its stage with a conversation between the speaker and a college dean during a visit to his alma mater. As the dean mentions Dockery, the speaker is reminded of his own youth, marked by mischief and explanations of "incidents last night" to the very dean he now engages with. This reflection on past indiscretions serves as a gateway for the speaker's musings on the passage of time. His old college room now remains inaccessible, its door firmly locked, symbolizing the bygone era of his student days, and signaling his quiet departure on a train unnoticed.
Ruminations on the Train
As the speaker journeys by train, he begins to mull over Dockery's life choices. Dockery's early fatherhood becomes a focal point, representing a path the speaker did not take. In contemplating Dockery's life, the speaker is on the verge of reaching a predictable conclusion about life's fleeting nature, but he falls asleep instead. This sleep underscores the theme of a life "slept through," reinforcing the notion of time slipping away unnoticed.
Awakening to Realizations
Upon awakening amidst the industrial sights of Sheffield, the speaker turns to introspection. Dockery's mention triggers a reassessment of his own choices, particularly his decision to remain unmarried and childless. While he initially perceives this as natural, the comparison to Dockery's accomplishments jolts him into realizing how much of life has quietly elapsed. The speaker's contemplation hits a deeper chord when he considers that Dockery equated "adding"—such as having a child—with an increase in life, whereas he sees it as a dilution of self.
Life's Innate Assumptions
Through his reflections, the speaker recognizes that life is shaped by "Innate assumptions," which are less about ideals and more about habitual patterns that solidify over time. These assumptions are not consciously chosen; rather, they are intrinsic styles that evolve into the substance of one's existence. The speaker acknowledges that life's progression—whether seized or ignored—leaves one with the outcomes of unseen choices. Ultimately, this realization leads him to confront the inevitable approach of "age, and then the only end of age," death, underscoring the inexorable march of time and the mysteries of motivation.
Style and Technique
Philip Larkin, renowned for his understated brilliance, crafts "Dockery and Son" with a deft hand that intertwines traditional form with muted complexity. His poetry often adheres to classic structures, yet these never overshadow the content. Instead, they serve as a subtle framework, allowing the poem's organic flow to prevail, much like the speaker's life that unfolds with an almost indifferent passage of time.
Structure and Form
"Dockery and Son" consists of six octaves, or eight-line stanzas, but only the poem's conclusion features a definitive period. This structural choice reflects the ongoing, sometimes aimless journey of the speaker's life. Each stanza includes four rhymes, yet their arrangement shifts, creating an experience akin to being gently propelled through the poem. This mirrors the speaker's life transitions, barely acknowledged except for the inevitable march of time.
Pacing and Expectations
Larkin's mastery is evident in the poem's pacing. The conclusion of...
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the first stanza presents the line, "I try the door of where I used to live:"—the colon suggesting a potential revelation or significant moment. Yet, the subsequent stanza begins with the stark and unanticipated "Locked." This abruptness disrupts any expectation of profound discovery, reinforcing the theme of uneventful existence.
A similar technique is employed when the speaker drifts into sleep, "Yawning, I suppose/ I fell asleep, waking at the fumes/ And furnace-glares of Sheffield, where I changed." The tentative word "suppose" renders even his slumber uncertain, aligning with the unintended drift of his life. The phrase "where I changed" delivers an ironic twist, as it refers only to changing trains, rather than any life-altering decision, further accentuated by the mundane detail of consuming an "awful pie." Yet, just when triviality seems inevitable, the speaker observes "the ranged/ Joining and parting lines reflect a strong// Unhindered moon." This imagery extends beyond the mundane, hinting at a transcendental presence that remains elusive and frustratingly out of reach.
Subtle Language Use
Larkin's language is skillfully subdued, particularly when the speaker reflects on Dockery "taking stock." He questions, "how// Convinced he was he should be added to!/ Why did he think adding meant increase?/ To me it was dilution." Here, the language of family and commitment is couched in business terminology, underscoring the poem's title, "Dockery and Son," which itself resembles a business name. Beneath the poem's ostensibly mundane exterior, lies a profound poetic subtlety. The speaker's life, much like a faltering business, yields nothing, save for "all a son’s harsh patronage."
Imagery and the Numinous
Larkin's sudden introduction of grand imagery amidst the mundane is a hallmark of his work. This is evident when the speaker encounters the "strong// Unhindered moon." The railroad tracks, emblematic of life's paths, contrast with the moon, which exists beyond the trivialities of human life. This imagery evokes a sense of the numinous, an indefinable presence that lurks just beyond human comprehension. Rather than offering solace or hope, it amplifies a deeper, more profound frustration.
In "Dockery and Son," Larkin's nuanced use of traditional form, strategic pacing, and subtle language creates a rich tapestry that captures the essence of life's understated and often aimless progression. The poem's ability to evoke a sense of the transcendent, while simultaneously reinforcing the speaker's disillusionment, is a testament to Larkin's poetic genius.
