Love, Time, and the Illusion of Permanence: A Study of “An Arundel Tomb” by Philip Larkin

Name of Author : Pooja Vasudeva

Abstract: This research paper examines Philip Larkin’s poem An Arundel Tomb with a focus on themes of love, time, mortality, and the illusion of permanence. The poem, inspired by a medieval tomb of an aristocratic couple, reflects on how human emotions, particularly love, are shaped and reinterpreted across time. Larkin questions whether love can truly transcend death or whether it is a construct imposed by later generations. Through irony, imagery, and reflective tone, the poem explores the gap between reality and perception. This paper argues that while Larkin appears skeptical about the endurance of love, he ultimately acknowledges the human desire to believe in its permanence.

Keywords : time, mortality, and the illusion

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