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Essay / An analysis of “Church Going” by Philip Larkin
When we read the title Church Going, we are inclined to think that the poem that follows is going to be deeply religious. However, Philip Larkin's "Church Going" introduces an interesting play on words; when we continue reading the poem, it becomes clear that it is not about going “to” church but about “going” there. This poem addresses the slow disappearance of the Church as an institution. Throughout, Larkin explores the possibility of what would happen if the Church were diluted in its essence, while recognizing the continued appeal of the religiosity it embodies. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get an original essay From the first line, the poet has made it clear that he is skeptical and does not want to be involved in any ceremony. He mentions the phrase “Another Church,” as in just another church. This phrase is important because it is part of the idea of a diluted religion, where all he sees is just “another church.” His tone is almost provocative in this context. Even when he says everything is "brownish now", he is trying to imply that it is slowly eroding and is no longer as strong as before. It brings out the idea of decadence in this part of the poem. Additionally, his calling the altar the "sacred end" almost seems to be in a subtle but distinctly mocking tone. What's interesting, however, is that there is an "unignorable silence." Although this is a way in which he wonders why he cannot find answers, it can also mean that it is in this state of the Church that the speaker finds the peace necessary for introspection. However, at the end there is an "awkward reverence", exposing a sense of ambiguity in the speaker's attitude towards God. The speaker then displays some cynicism, moving his “hand around the police” – is he seeking God or checking the scene? (feeling of ambivalence). He reads a few verses, saying “here ends” much louder than he intended. This expression could have a deeper meaning and perhaps be associated with the idea of the disappearance of the Church as an institution. “The echoes sneer briefly” is another very significant phrase that could indicate that even the echoes of his voice mock the very idea of this disappearance. He donates an “Irish sixpence”, knowing that it has no value. These sixpences can metaphorically symbolize the church and its diminishing significance. The first stanza brings out the speaker's ambivalence, even though the speaker says the place is not worth stopping at, he stops there nonetheless. What is he looking for? But he finds himself distraught again, having not found what he was looking for. He wonders what will happen when “the churches fall completely out of use.” He wonders if they will become monuments to admire or if they will be seen as bringing bad luck. He also wonders if it will become a place where only superstition finds its place. The fourth stanza addresses the idea of the possibilities of events that could occur if the church disappeared. In the fifth stanza he talks about the hypocrisy of how religion is perceived and wonders if the church will only be useful for these purposes. He wonders if it will become a place to which a “Christmas-addict” would be drawn. We can perhaps conclude that this sentence highlights the idea of the importance of the church as a purely ceremonial landmark. People only go to church at Christmas. He continues to wonder if the Christmas addict will be as ambivalent as he is, bored and misinformed. In this stanza he describes the church as potentially a place where simply.