Larkin - Context

Larkin is a post-war poet.

‘The Whitsun Weddings’ was first published in 1964, a time when youth culture was instigating the social revolution.

Many of the poems in the collection were, however, written in the 1950s, and are informed by the sensibilities of that decade which was characterised by drab, post-war austerity. It was a time when social and sexual morality was still oppressive.

Society was shaped by patriarchal values which assigned clearly defined gender roles. Women were still in some respects second-class citizens.

Larkin’s poetry frequently observes and considers the everyday experiences of modern, provincial urban life.

The latter part of the 20th century saw a questioning of traditional values and an erosion of the religious and social certainties that had hitherto underpinned and sustained society.

The latter half of the 20th century saw an increasing movement away from religion and religious authority towards a more secular, materialistic and consumerist culture.

It was a time of increased consumerism when advertisers sold their various products with promises of aspirational fulfilment and happiness.

It was a patriarchal age, when women were sexualised and subordinated, Larkin’s portrayal of women is often surprisingly sympathetic.

The 1950s saw a decline in community values as the workforce spread across the nation in pursuit of better pay and material advancement.

An increasingly urbanised nation meant that many were alienated from nature.

Among middle-aged and older generations, there was a strong affinity with tradition and a sense of nostalgia for an idealised past.

Larkin has been described as a modernist poet who loathes modernity.