No Road by Philip Larkin - Explanation - Analysis
The poem "No Road" has two interpretations - one is abstract and another is literal. Both are analysed below. The narrator is addressing a person with whom he shared a good relationship but for past some time their ties received a blow. The road is an allegory of human relationship or ties. The road and vicinity are symbolically making references to the human ties.
The narrator says that the road which connects them remains unused since they last used them to meet. The gates that were earlier left open to each other, also bore the brunt of their separation as they are bricked. To avoid absolute contact with each other, they cover their houses with trees. They let the destructive/ageing power of time to work on its course of erasing the roads between them. Silence prevailed in the vicinity for a long time. The space around between them has also witnessed a bit change. Strangers too come and go from the road. In spite of these shortcomings, there is no major effect on the path connecting them.
The narrator and this person separated by their consent but not on a happy note. They begin to ignore and stop meeting each other. Time, the powerful healer, could neither heal nor strike their memories or "effect" of each other. They don't forget each other completely.
The shed leaves of trees drift there due to lack of sweeping/cleaning. It seems that the alleged leaves are grass that has grown long as no one mow the grass for a long time. It isn't overgrown and the path is still clear. No other change has taken place there. The narrator feels that if he would walk over the other side, he won't feel strange or alien. He believes that he would be welcomed there. If he waits for even a little while, it would be more difficult for him to reconcile with the people on the other side.
After they separate from each other, they occupy themselves with other engagements. But these minor distractions could not help them forget each other. The memories remain clear with the same effects. The narrator admits that if he takes the first step towards reconciliation, there is some chance that he would make peace with the other person. But he doesn't. He also knows that the more he waits, the more it will be difficult to improve ties.
Time would exacerbate the disharmony between them and paves the way for a world in which there is no road between them. It seems that the narrator wants to relieve himself from this broken relationship, so he desires such world, which he says, is his "liberty". He doesn't want to prevent this world's change i.e. he has no intention to mend this relationship. It is his this "ailment" i.e. his flaw or obstacle that is the reason why he doesn't take any measure or step to improve his ties with another person.
The narrator says that the road which connects them remains unused since they last used them to meet. The gates that were earlier left open to each other, also bore the brunt of their separation as they are bricked. To avoid absolute contact with each other, they cover their houses with trees. They let the destructive/ageing power of time to work on its course of erasing the roads between them. Silence prevailed in the vicinity for a long time. The space around between them has also witnessed a bit change. Strangers too come and go from the road. In spite of these shortcomings, there is no major effect on the path connecting them.
The narrator and this person separated by their consent but not on a happy note. They begin to ignore and stop meeting each other. Time, the powerful healer, could neither heal nor strike their memories or "effect" of each other. They don't forget each other completely.
The shed leaves of trees drift there due to lack of sweeping/cleaning. It seems that the alleged leaves are grass that has grown long as no one mow the grass for a long time. It isn't overgrown and the path is still clear. No other change has taken place there. The narrator feels that if he would walk over the other side, he won't feel strange or alien. He believes that he would be welcomed there. If he waits for even a little while, it would be more difficult for him to reconcile with the people on the other side.
After they separate from each other, they occupy themselves with other engagements. But these minor distractions could not help them forget each other. The memories remain clear with the same effects. The narrator admits that if he takes the first step towards reconciliation, there is some chance that he would make peace with the other person. But he doesn't. He also knows that the more he waits, the more it will be difficult to improve ties.
Time would exacerbate the disharmony between them and paves the way for a world in which there is no road between them. It seems that the narrator wants to relieve himself from this broken relationship, so he desires such world, which he says, is his "liberty". He doesn't want to prevent this world's change i.e. he has no intention to mend this relationship. It is his this "ailment" i.e. his flaw or obstacle that is the reason why he doesn't take any measure or step to improve his ties with another person.
The narrator wants to separate himself from the person completely with no trace of the latter. He imagines a world where there is no possibility of reconciliation with the other one. He says that such a world is a "liberty" for him. It is his will itself which is the main hurdle in their unity. The narrator doesn't want to continue such a relationship, this is his "ailment".
In "Silence and space and strangers, the literary device of Alliteration is used.
In "Silence and space and strangers, the literary device of Alliteration is used.