Poem Analysis - This Be The Verse

A Dose of Pessimistic Inheritance

Philip Larkin's "This Be The Verse" is a stark and cynical exploration of inherited unhappiness. The poem wastes no time in delivering its bleak message: parents, despite their intentions, inevitably damage their children. The tone is blunt, almost aggressively so, progressing from a general indictment of parenthood to a bleak warning about the perpetuation of misery. There's a slight shift in the final stanza towards a desperate plea for self-preservation.

The Chain of Misery

The central theme is the cyclical nature of unhappiness, passed down through generations. Larkin presents this not as a conscious act of malice, but as an unavoidable consequence of being human. The first stanza establishes the premise: "They fuck you up, your mum and dad." This informal language emphasizes the everyday reality of the situation. The second stanza extends the blame backwards, suggesting that parents themselves were victims of a similar process: "But they were fucked up in their turn / By fools in old-style hats and coats." This indicates a historical and societal component to the cycle.

The Weight of the Past

Another significant theme is the burden of the past. The "faults they had" that are passed down are not just individual flaws, but also the accumulated baggage of previous generations. The image of "fools in old-style hats and coats" suggests outdated values and societal pressures that contribute to the ongoing cycle of misery. These are not merely personal failings, but reflect the weight of tradition and expectation that weighs heavily on each generation.

Coastal Shelf Symbolism

The image of misery deepening "like a coastal shelf" is a powerful symbol. A coastal shelf is a gradual slope beneath the sea, extending outwards from the shore. This suggests that the accumulation of unhappiness is a slow, almost imperceptible process. It's not a sudden catastrophe, but a gradual erosion of well-being. The vastness of the ocean further reinforces the idea that this is a widespread and enduring problem, affecting generations upon generations. Perhaps Larkin is suggesting that this "coastal shelf" is not solely made of misery, but of opportunities lost because of the inherited unhappiness. It is important to get out early and not contribute to its continuous formation by having kids.

A Stark Inheritance: Final Thoughts

"This Be The Verse" is a cynical yet poignant commentary on family and the human condition. Larkin's poem is a bleak but honest assessment of the difficulties of parenthood and the challenge of breaking free from the patterns of the past. The final lines offer a drastic solution – to escape and avoid perpetuating the cycle – highlighting the profound pessimism at the heart of the poem. Ultimately, the poem serves as a warning and a call for self-awareness, even if its solution is somewhat despairing.