The title represents the 'son' as a status symbol because he has no name, esentially he has personal identity. The poem follows the theme of age and generations, it also conveys the message that you're unable to go back in time.
'His son's here now'
The speaker visits his university where we learn that an acquanticance who was at university the same time as the speaker, now has a son who goes to the same uni.
'I try the door of where I used to live: Locked.'
This metaphorical device shows how the past is 'locked' meaning it is impossible to go back into the past. We are unable to change what's happened, what's been said and the choices that have been made, maybe creating a sense of regret.
'The lawn spreads dazzlingly wide'
Short-lived optimism is presented as 'spread dazzlingly wide' suggesting that the speaker still has opportunity in his life and a good life to live. This is also suggesting that the poet has been set free from his past and his life at university. However, the poet swiftly goes back to talk about Dockery by having a strong opinion on his choices to have a child so young at 'nineteen, twenty.' Phrases such as 'good lord' indicates how the speaker is personally judging Dockery.
'Joining and parting lines'
The speaker changes trains at Sheffield, corresponding with time change in the poem. 'Joining and parting lines' implies the different paths in life we take. This also suggest how we all 'part' during out lifetime in order to take different paths, however we all 'join' at the same point, which is death.
'To have no son, no wife, No house or land still seemed quite natural'
To have none of these things is unusual to most of society, however to Larkin it 'seemed quite natural' implying his dislike towards family life. It also shows how different Dockery is to Larkin and the different paths they have taken.
'Why did he think adding meant increase? To me it was dilution'
The poet cannot comprehend the reason why someone would want a child. 'Adding' doesn't necessarily mean your happiness will increase. Larkin views children as a 'dilution' meaning it weakens you as a person and lowers the quality of your life.
'They're more a style our lives bring with them:Habbit for a while'
The speaker presents the idea that having a child is not what society truely wants, it's not 'truest' or what they 'most want to do.' Having children is 'style' suggesting that the expectations that surrounds us is heavily influential, essentially creating unhappiness because it's not what individuals genuinely want.
'Suddenly they harden into all we've got'
This suggests that once you have children, the rest of your life is lost. Children 'harden' into all you have, meaning your life opportunities are limited, essentially making your quality of life decrease. This also reinforces the idea that we are unable to alter the past, the choices we make may form enormous regret which we are left with for the rest of our lives.
'Life is first boredom, then fear'
The poet expresses the idea that throughout our lives we feel a great sense of boredom and disappointment. Individuals may feel unsatisifed with life, however once death comes knocking on our door we feel 'fear.'
'Whether or not we use it, it goes'
No matter how we choose to live our life, death will happen to each and every one of us. The only thing definite in life is death, the life choices we take may not last forever, essentially leading to disapointment. The poem ends with the line 'And age, and then the only end of age.' This reinforces the idea that death is the only thing that is definite.
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