Student Question
Is the tone of "Days" by Philip Larkin optimistic or pessimistic?
Quick answer:
The tone of Philip Larkin's poem "Days" is predominantly pessimistic. While the poem superficially suggests days are "to be happy in," this optimism is ironic. The narrator does not express true happiness and instead seems to explore alternatives to living within the constraints of days, ultimately implying that death is the only escape. This is symbolized by the presence of a doctor and priest, hinting at the narrator's contemplation of suicide.
The poem "Days" by Philip Larkin is as characteristically pessimistic as most of Larkin's poetry, It begins with a rhetorical question, asking about the purpose of days, and suggests that:
"They are to be happy in."
Although this might seem cheerful on the surface, the optimism is ironic. The narrator nowhere claims that he is actually happy, and seems to be searching for an alternative to living in days. The only other option that can be envisaged though is death, symbolized by the doctor (who tries to save lives) and priest (who administers extreme unction). The poem, in fact, hints that the narrator is contemplating suicide to answer the question:
"Where can we live but days?"
Thus the tone is ironic and pessimistic.
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