The poem seems to contain the prominent theme of the 'transformation of marriage', how young innocent women change when they are wedded and finally have this freedom. The train journey that Larkin takes himself could represent these young women's marriage, that marriage is forever moving from one place to another. The way in which Larkin feels in certain parts of the poem could connote the fact the different types of feelings are felt by couples during marriage. Like a 'Journey' itself you never know where it will take you or if you are on the right path or not. This is why Larkin connotes his philosophical ideas to us as well during the end of the poem. Of course, because this poem is related to marriage we find it contains the theme of 'religion' as well. Larkin clearly has a negative scope on this theme which I will talk about later on.
During stanza one we get the sense of Larkin coming out of a rush. He seems to be angry at the start of the poem blaming Whitsun as to why he was late for his train. However once Larkin is on the train it seems that all the ideas of being rushed have completely vanished. This is represented through the quote 'All windows down, all cushions hot, all sense of being in a hurry gone'. The repetition of the power of three really emphasises that Larkin himself can now relax, that this journey helps to take the stress of hurrying in normal everyday life away from him. The weather is used for pathetic fallacy of the relaxation of Larkin words such as 'Hot and Blinding' connote powerful representations of the weather. Of course the weather and relaxing make you sleepy which links in with the next stanza. We also get the sense of the smelly vision through 'smelt the fish-dock'. This represents that Larkin is fully aware within this stanza.
In stanza two Larkin becomes more sleepy and unsenseless of the environment around him. The personification of 'tall heat that slept' represents Larkin's sleepy nature within this stanza. The overall sense within this stanza is negative. Words such as 'slow, stopping and curving' act as if something is not getting anywhere that it is unproductive in what it is doing. But in turn, these words give off a sense of sleepiness that Larkin is in. Unproductivity is represented through the way in which Larkin describes the setting within this stanza. It seems as though his train has reached the 'industrial north'. Words such as 'reek and floatings' adds to our understanding of Larkin's distaste for things that are man made. The word 'floatings' however gives off an impression that something is not moving, it is bobbing about all most. This again represents that Larkin is aware of his surroundings, but he feels sleepy at the same time. The word 'approached' represents this fact because it is a verb of movement.
Within stanza three Larkin seems to begin to describe the weddings. Larkin successfully uses onomatopoeia for example 'whoops and skirls'. The word 'skirls' makes you think of skirts. In turn 'skirts' give a sense of the environment of a wedding at these stations. However Larkin seems to be not very interested at first 'and went on reading'. Larkin himself seems very snobby within stanza three as well describing that the girls as 'grinning, pomaded and parodies'. The fact that the fashion they are wearing are 'parodies' in Larkin's eyes adds to his snobbery, that he believes that what they are wearing is a complete mockery. The girls seem 'posed irresolutely'. It seems as if they don't know what to do. At the end of this stanza two things happen the couple is described as 'something'. This has two possible meanings to it. One being that the couple are represented as an object. Or two they are now with one another in a union of love. In the context of weddings it is more likely to be that of the union of love. People are now 'waving goodbye' as well. This implies that all the excitement of a wedding has now vanished. Now that the couple have married there is nothing left for the guests to do. This is also why Larkin seems to describe the guests as 'irresolute'. Interestingly, this stanza ends with an enjambment, which gives the impression of constant movement, it acts as a metaphor for Larkin's journey.
In stanza four Larkin becomes more aware of his environment of the journey again. Words such as 'struck, leant, promptly and curiously' gives off an analytical vibe in to how Larkin is viewing the world outside of his carriage. This 'analytical' side that Larkin adopts in this stanza is used to other people within the poem as well and represents him as being more judgemental in character. For example he describes the mothers as 'loud and fat', 'the uncle shouting smut' and 'fathers with seamy foreheads'. This does represent the fact that Larkin is judgemental of these people and is possibly snobby of them because of their working class nature. The phrase 'different terms' also highlights Larkin's change to the perception of the outside world. 'jewellery-substitutes' acts as an oxymoron to represent that in Larkin's eyes the weddings are a façade. The women are described as wearing 'lemons, mauves and olive-ochres'. These are all rather vulgar colours which represents Larkin's vulgarity as well to what they are wearing. Larkin's snobbery is taken even further through the quote 'marked off the girls unreally from the rest'. It just shows that the only difference in these girls is the colour they wear, however their backgrounds which seems to be working class is exactly the same.
In stanza five Larkin becomes even more stereotypical of the people at these weddings. The quote 'And banquet halls up yard, and bunting-dressed coach party annexes, the wedding-days were coming to an end'. This is a vivid recreation of what Larkin is imagining. He is sitting there imagining what they are going to do next. He is stereotyping so much that it seems as if he can literally imagine their lives. Humour appears within this stanza as well. 'The last confetti and advice were thrown'. This shows that the humorous advice that is given to newly weds isn't taken on board. It can be disposed of, just like confetti can. We also get the humour from the children as well that 'children frowned at something dull'. It represents the fact that children have got bored now because generally weddings themselves are boring for children to attend. 'something dull' represents other aspects however to this poem as well. It suggests that the mood is now fading within the wedding because the couple have now got married. Again, it can link to Larkin's journey as well, that in itself it is slowing down. The fathers are represented positively in this stanza as well. 'fathers had never known success so huge and farcical'. The fact that the wedding is over acts as a trigger of relief in the fathers. The wedding is the opportunity to show off their wealth as well which would seem important to members of the working class. The next line is very interesting 'the women shared the secret like a happy funeral'. Because these are the older women the secret is that marriage is not what they expect it to be. The oxymoron of a 'happy funeral' represents that the happy people are the older women and the funeral is for the younger women because they will just come out disappointed. The secret in this context is disappointment. The theme of religion is also highlighted significantly within this poem through the phrase 'religious wounding'. This gives out many connotations. It seems as though you can not be repaired once you are wedded. It also acts as if these women are loaded and that they are full of love and potential, this however could go the other way. 'religious wounding' however reminds us of the
crucifixion, which gives off horrific imagery. It seems as if Larkin is criticising the Christian view and how vile we are as humans to worship a religion which respects the slow torture of a man.
Stanza six starts off with the word 'free'. The word free acts as an abstract noun and also acts as the epiphany of this poem as the reader begins to understand that Larkin is coming to the more abstract and philosophical meaning to this poem. The word in this context also acts as a euphemism for sex that in itself marriage creates this. The girls will loose their virginity, they will be fearful of this. Larkin seems to travel through industrial setting in this stanza again 'fields were building-plots'. 'Long shadows' however could represent something terrible in Larkin's eyes. On the other hand this could be used for industrial growth, metaphorically speaking it could go either way. The word 'time' acts as an abstract noun and conforms to the aspect of the abstract nature of this poem from this moment forward.
Stanza seven is about the wedded couple. They are sitting 'side by side' which represents that they are so in love that they do not actually need to talk with one another. On the other hand they may not know what to say to one another which gives the idea of false love across to the reader. This is represented through the quote 'and none thought of the others they would never meet or how their lives would all contain this hour'. This in itself acts negatively, they seem eternal or self-obsessed with one another which is a bad thing. London is described having 'squares of wheat'. Larkin is describing London as if it is an idyllic rural landscape. We know London isn't like this so it is Larkin's imagination of what London could be like. Linking this to love it represents the fact that love can go either way. It can turn into what London really is like or the imagination of what London is like being pastoral countryside.
The last stanza is very philosophical about the aspect of love. The word 'aimed' represents that the newly wed couple are literally being pulled and shot into the future, that they are loaded with love and that releasing this arrow brings the couple together with one another. However love is presented negatively by the weather. It is 'out of sight' which suggests an unknown future. positively it is 'becoming rain' which represents something being relieved or refreshed and this is the couple's love. They have advanced in life, like the journey from being hot to raining their love has literally ripened and progressed through marriage. If the 'arrow shower' represents their love then it is representing it in a positive light, that this couple will look on to a bright future.
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