Extended commentary of ‘On the Departure Platform’ by Thomas Hardy Essay

On the Title This is obviously a fable for the endinging of a scrap, as well as the actual description of the place where m whatsoever of the images (within the song) atomic number 18 based on a train platform, where the comp anent part and his female shaft interest part. The title introduces the poems key theme to the reader a separation of childlike love, but not a permanent one. As one reads that into the poem itself, the persona comments on the painful fact that humanity leaves stool time as well.Over all(prenominal) Structure brassy writes in 6 stanzas of English quatrains with an alternate rhyme scheme (a similar technique apply in other poems) to concentrate the poem. The last cablegram of these stanzas is conspicuously shorter than the others normally four or five syllables to the other nine or ten. stalwart does this to a) draw attention to them but also b) to the theme they nearly all have in common. They all illustrate, in the first four stanzas, a diminua tion in the womans size as an optical effect, she gets little the further she moves a focal point into the crowd. This, in some ways, adds to the poignancy of the poem.Themes Time (the way that it works), Distance, PainDifficult Language Notes Nebulous means cloudy.First Stanza Notes stouthearteds poem is full of optical ideas they are continuous to reserve an important effect to be afterwards considered. Thus his opening frontier is of an image We kissed at the barrier and button through/ She left me. brazen-faced intentionally uses a stark and blunt image the enjambment highlights the phrases passing through (immediately presenting images of movement, perhaps through Time as well) and She left me. nonpareil can feel the emotion in that conspicuously short phrase.And import by second got/ Smaller and smaller. Continuing with the diminuation of the womans range, unafraid(p) uses mirroring comparatives to emphasize the change. The stanza then ends with the shortened line She was but a accredit. Notice the empty sounds in spot, but the harsh unity it invokes a decisively negative emotion. Also note the semicolon at the end of the line. The wizard of the sentence continues into the next stanza imbibeing the poem as a whole is crucially important.Second Stanza Notes Again, portly presents an image A gain sinlessness spot of muslin fluff the use of the word fluff (as in a fluffy cloud) is complimented by the use of nebulous white later on. Hardy imagines the woman as a cloud an indistinct stilt of hazy material. This is important metaphorically. We receive no description of the womans face, only her clothing. She has no name, no identity this memory of a by-gone moment whilst in love (as revealed later) bears none of the crucial intimacy that one would remain such a relationship to possess. You would expect a lover to be able to remember at least facial features This lack of property is to be later explored.Hardy introduces his ideas clos ely perspective and sight in this stanza. He introduces key renaissance optical theory in the line down that diminishing platform bore. This is the idea of two meet lines eventually reaching a vanishing point. The diminishing platform mirrors the diminishing view of the woman is this (metaphorically) an emotional statement along with a literal visual one?Note through hustling crowds of gentle and rough refers to the class constitution of gentlefolk and the rough of the lower classes. Its only importance is in distinguishing between the figure of the woman and the crowd the persona is only focussed on her terzetto Stanza Notes Hardy then explores the same image further, with a focus on colour contrastUnder the lamplights fitful glowers,Behind fatal groups from far and near,Whose interests were apart from ours,She would disappear,Hardy compares the darkness of the scene which is, remember, in a typically smoky Victorian railway station to the pure white of the womans dress. It stands out. Indeed, he focuses entirely upon this image, as it is the beauty of it which he wishes to recall therefore, all other individuals become dark metaphoric areas in his memory. The line Their interests were apart from ours further advances this the persona does not care about any other intentions other than his own, and perhaps his partners.It could be argued that Hardy creates an intimidating scene around the woman. Glowers are angry expressions. The fact that they are considered fitful or appropriate for the occasion reveals an odd nuance in the personas attitude. If it is appropriate, then is the persona angry too? wherefore would he be? Upset, understandably, but is he frustrated at losing his love?Or is he angry at slowly losing the moment (in call of memory) itself?On a final note, observe how there is a comma butterfly at the end of the stanza. This allows the sense of Hardys verse to mold on, like an exaggerated form of enjambment.Fourth Stanza Notes Hardy doe s this to slang comparison between the segmented linesShe would disappear,/Then show again,He emphasizes the ostensible suddenness of the womans appearances, whilst also increasing a sense of distance between the figure and the persona. Note how she flickers is this flickering due to a slow loss of clear recollection of memory? This is a squeamish idea The figure of the woman herself changes in the following lines, either in memoriam or literally (that flexible form, that nebulous white,). Despite occupying the personas entire mental capacity, the image lacks any definition in damage of facial or emotional features. This is highly inconsistent with the idea that the persona cherishes her (As, indeed, he confirms she who was more than my life to me.) Why compare an individual whom one should know so well to a cloud?In any case, it is at this point that the figure disappears entirely, with a noticeable ellipse. Here Hardy comes out of his historic mood and into a (near) present strive.Fifth and 6th Stanzas Notes Hardy once again comes to the point of his poem at the end, in a comment upon the inability to retain a moment, and the irony of suspending such a moment in literary form.Although the persona views the memory fondly, and has penned penned wise plans since, there is a decided lack of evidence for any prox physical recurrences of the woman. It is perhaps suggested, therefore, that the relationship has ended at this point in terms of language, the persona has yet to see her again and maybe never will. Indeed, Hardy uses polysyndeton and recurring dashes, along with the conditional tense to emphasize the distrust as to the relationships future.Hardys point does not regard the relationship, however therefore the truth is left purposely unclear. By contrast, the aim of the poem is to point to the fact that nought happens twice indeed the persona will never experience such a moment again.This idea is introduced in the last line of the fifth stanza (But never as then), in a phrase made noticeable through its contracted nature. Then Hardy switches to a present tense exchange.-And why, young man, must eternally flyA joy youll usurp if you love her well?* O friend, nought happens twice thus why,I cannot tellWhilst also emphasizing the personas youth, Hardy makes his tragic point clear once again. However, there exists an irony rooted in his words. For, due to the existence of the poem itself, it can be argued that the moment is quite an attainable (as proved above), but through the use of literary suspension.