Afternoons

Question 1

Introduction

Answer 1

Larkin uses the poem ‘Afternoons’ as a vehicle to criticise marriages as they narrow and restrict gender roles whereby women lacked identity outside of their family life, as they were restricted to their lives as a wife and mother. Larkin laments on the loss of youth and vitality in women during the 1960’s as a result of prescriptive gender roles and societal expectations. Larkins pessimistic view on marriage reflects his personal decision of not marrying, due to his mothers advice that marriage could deaden the heart’s desire.