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Analysis of Dockery and Son

Synopsis=  In Dockery and Son, Larkin takes a step back and reflects on his life, in particularly his life in the past. It is also clearly highlighting in this poem the obvious lack of offspring that Larkin has in his life, accompanied with the absence of marriage too, and Larkin is perhaps showing through language how far he differs from the pre programmed idealism that many people (such as Dockery) follow through life, which is traditionally marriage followed by children. 

 Key Quotations + Analysis 
1.) "death-suited" 

  • This has many connotations, it could initially imply that the death of his lineage is soon approaching, as he doesn't have a child to pursue it.
  • It could also allude to Larkins feelings of the past, Larkins past is dead to him as he hasn't achieved the traditional idealism of having children. 
  • Suited= the sombre life that Larkin has chosen to not follow this traditional path is suited to him. 
  • Perhaps he is "death suited" as he is mourning the idea that he will never have children 
2.) "sand-clouds"
  • Here Larkin could be alluding to a feeling of confinement as sand clouds are often suffocating and oppressive, as a result Larkin could be arguing that he feels as if having children is a form of imprisonment for parents.
  • Sand clouds could also connote a lack of vision which could refer to Larkins lack of perspective when it comes to having children, he can only see the negatives therefore his vision is clouded. Also this lack of vision implies that he cant envisage the future of his children as it is out of his hands, whereas he can control his own future which is within his comfort zone.
  • Sand is often abrasive, this could suggest that Larkin feels pain looking back on his past and this pain may be reflected in his future.
3.) "dilution"
  • Larkins attitudes to having children, could insinuate that having children is a drain on the parents and consequently a further drain on society. Therefore Larkin does not want to be diluted by his children as he fears that they will drown out his own achievements, he fears being defined by their presence. 
4.) "life is first boredom, then fear"
  • He fears of not having a legacy after his death.
  • Could also be referring to the cycle of emotions as you enter parenthood, once you are a parent you are in constant fear of the safety of your child, therefore you are never truly free. 
Links to other Larkin poems
  • Self's the man= Both speakers are conflicted by their sense of identity, they doubt their decision to not follow the pre established idealism of marrying and having children, they both are also perceived as somewhat egotistical. 
  • "She takes as her perk" portrays family (in this case marriage) as a drain on freedom, similar to Larkins idea of "dilution"

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