Philip Larkin’s poem “Dockery and Son” is a reflective meditation on the choices made in life, the passage of time, and the differing paths individuals take. Through a narrative structure and introspective tone, Larkin explores themes of regret, societal expectations, and the inevitability of aging and death. The poem begins with a conversation between the speaker and the Dean, who informs him that Dockery’s son is now attending the same college they once attended. This information prompts the speaker to reflect on his past and the choices he and Dockery made. The speaker’s initial reaction is one of mild surprise and curiosity: “Dockery was junior to you, / Wasn’t he?” said the Dean. “His son’s here now.” This sets off a chain of thoughts that leads the speaker to recall his own college days and the decisions that have led him to his current state. As the speaker revisits his old college, he finds the door to his former residence locked, symbolizing the inaccessibility of the past. The “lawn spreads dazzlingly wide,” suggesting a sense of openness and possibility that contrasts with the speaker’s current sense of limitation and loss. The “known bell chimes” and the mundane details of catching a train and leaving the college behind evoke a sense of routine and detachment from his younger self. While traveling, the speaker’s thoughts turn to Dockery, reflecting on the passage of time and the choices Dockery made: “Anyone up today must have been born / In ’43, when I was twenty-one. / If he was younger, did he get this son / At nineteen, twenty? Was he that withdrawn / High-collared public-schoolboy, sharing rooms / With Cartwright who was killed?” These lines suggest a mix of confusion and awe at Dockery’s early decision to start a family, contrasting sharply with the speaker’s own life choices. The speaker’s journey continues, leading to an introspective realization about his own life: “To have no son, no wife, / No house or land still seemed quite natural.” This statement conveys a sense of acceptance of his solitary lifestyle, yet it is tinged with a “numbness” that registers the shock of realizing how much of life has passed by. The mention of Dockery taking stock of his life at a young age and making deliberate choices contrasts with the speaker’s more passive approach to life. Larkin delves deeper into the existential implications of these choices, questioning the inherent assumptions that drive people to pursue different paths: “Why did he think adding meant increase? / To me it was dilution. Where do these / Innate assumptions come from? Not from what / We think truest, or most want to do.” This philosophical musing highlights the randomness and external influences that shape our lives, rather than any inherent truth or desire. The poem’s concluding lines bring a sobering reflection on the nature of life itself: “Life is first boredom, then fear. / Whether or not we use it, it goes, / And leaves what something hidden from us chose, / And age, and then the only end of age.” Larkin captures the inevitability of aging and death, suggesting that life’s trajectory is often beyond our control, driven by hidden forces and societal norms. The final image of life’s progression from boredom to fear underscores the existential anxiety that pervades Larkin’s work. In summary, “Dockery and Son” by Philip Larkin is a contemplative poem that explores the divergent paths of life through the lens of personal reflection and societal expectations. The speaker’s journey through memory and introspection reveals a deep sense of regret and acceptance, highlighting the unpredictable nature of life’s choices and the inevitability of aging and mortality. Larkin’s use of vivid imagery and philosophical inquiry creates a powerful meditation on the human condition and the passage of time. |