Poem Analysis - An Arundel Tomb

An Ode to Enduring Love

Philip Larkin's "An Arundel Tomb" is a contemplative poem that explores the enduring power of love in the face of mortality and the relentless march of time. Initially, the poem adopts a detached, almost clinical tone, observing the physical details of the tomb with a dispassionate eye. However, this detachment gradually gives way to a more tender and reflective mood as the speaker contemplates the implications of the sculpted figures' pose and its meaning for present-day observers. The poem ultimately argues that love, or at least the perception of it, is what endures and gives meaning to our lives, even beyond our physical existence.

The Sculpted Image and Fleeting Time

The poem grapples with the theme of mortality through the contrast between the enduring stone figures and the fleeting nature of human life. The "earl and countess lie in stone," seemingly impervious to the passage of time, yet the details of their lives—their "proper habits"—are already "vaguely shown." The poem vividly depicts the relentless cycle of nature: "Snow fell, undated. Light / Each summer thronged the grass." This imagery emphasizes the indifference of the natural world to the specific lives and stories represented by the tomb. Time erodes not only the physical details of the tomb but also the memory and meaning of the individuals it commemorates, as "succeeding eyes begin / To look, not read." This shift from reading the inscription to merely looking at the sculpture highlights the loss of historical context and the superficiality of modern observation.

Love as Legacy

The central theme of the poem is the enduring power of love. The key image that conveys this is the "left-hand gauntlet, still / Clasped empty in the other; and / One sees, with a sharp tender shock, / His hand withdrawn, holding her hand." This unexpected gesture of affection amidst the rigid formality of the sculpture is deeply moving. It suggests a connection that transcends the coldness of death and the limitations of art. The poem argues that this sculpted representation of love, though perhaps initially intended as a mere "detail friends would see," ultimately becomes the couple's "final blazon," their lasting legacy. This suggests that even if the specifics of their lives are forgotten, the perception of their love remains a potent and resonant message.

The Erosion of Identity

The poem also touches on the theme of identity and how it is eroded by time and cultural shifts. The "endless altered people" who visit the tomb are "washing at their identity," suggesting a loss of connection to the past and a search for meaning in a rapidly changing world. The tomb, once a symbol of individual identity and status, is now viewed in the "hollow of / An unarmorial age," a time lacking the heraldic symbols and social structures that gave the earl and countess their place in society. The "trough / Of smoke in slow suspended skeins" above the tomb symbolizes the pollution and decay of the modern world, further distancing it from the past and obscuring the identities of those buried within. Is Larkin suggesting that we are all, in a way, becoming anonymous figures in the face of historical indifference?

Concluding Thoughts

"An Arundel Tomb" is a poignant meditation on the complexities of memory, love, and the passage of time. Through vivid imagery and a shift from detached observation to tender reflection, Larkin explores how even the most carefully constructed monuments are subject to the ravages of time and changing cultural perspectives. Ultimately, the poem suggests that while individual identities and historical contexts may fade, the perception of love, however idealized or unintended, can endure as a powerful and resonant message, proving that "What will survive of us is love." This enduring "attitude" becomes the most significant and lasting aspect of their existence, outliving the stone itself.