Self's The Man

This poem shows Larkin's selfishness and his views on being single as apposed to being married like Arnold. This poem compares Larkin's opinions on both being single and in a relationship.

Arnold -> selfless -> married
"stop her getting away" -> didn't want her to marry anyone else
"no she's there all day" -> never get any alone time ->claustrophobic

Two extremes - shows that there needs to be a balance in between the two (single and married).

There is repetition of: "Oh, no one can deny" -> sarcasm and "And"->monotonous - never-ending tasks she leaves for him/asks him to do.

In this poem it is very clear that Larkin has a cynical view of marriage.

Rhyming couplets link to comparison between the pair ->the marriage itself?

"It's Put a screw in this wall" - painting women as nagging and constantly reliant on a man ->negative view -> sexist

"Van" -> insanity? -> marriage drives people crazy but he then doubts himself with a pause and "or I suppose I can" -> as in maybe he could be open to settling down.

Larkin starts to backtrack and starts to think that maybe Arnold isn't as selfless as he first thought. Their lives are in some respect the same? "he was out for his own ends not just pleasing his friends" -> he is out for himself like everyone else.

Larkin comes to the conclusion that all decisions are selfish -> "he and I are the same" (but he's bias).