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Both "The Building" by Philip Larkin and "Why I Like the Hospital" by Tony Hoagland explore the theme of isolation within institutional settings through vivid imagery. Larkin depicts a cold, impersonal office building that isolates individuals, representing how modernization has reduced human connection. Hoagland portrays a hospital environment but suggests isolation can foster vulnerability and compassion, challenging the idea that institutions solely isolate. Together the poems examine how institutional spaces influence experiences of detachment and potential for connection in modern life.

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Piyush Bisht
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169 views

TNT

Both "The Building" by Philip Larkin and "Why I Like the Hospital" by Tony Hoagland explore the theme of isolation within institutional settings through vivid imagery. Larkin depicts a cold, impersonal office building that isolates individuals, representing how modernization has reduced human connection. Hoagland portrays a hospital environment but suggests isolation can foster vulnerability and compassion, challenging the idea that institutions solely isolate. Together the poems examine how institutional spaces influence experiences of detachment and potential for connection in modern life.

Uploaded by

Piyush Bisht
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as TXT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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"The Building" by Philip Larkin and "Why I Like the Hospital" by Tony Hoagland both
explore the theme of isolation within institutional settings, although they
approach it from different angles. Both poems depict spaces that are associated
with detachment and dehumanization, highlighting the alienating effects of modern
life.

In "The Building," Larkin portrays a cold and impersonal office building. The poem
uses precise and vivid imagery to convey a sense of lifelessness and detachment.
The glass surfaces that reflect the sky create a barrier between the outside world
and the individuals within the building. The poem suggests that the urban landscape
and modernization have led to a loss of human connection, with the building
representing the dehumanizing aspects of modern life.

Similarly, in "Why I Like the Hospital," Hoagland explores the theme of isolation
within the hospital setting. The speaker describes their personal experiences and
reflections on hospitals, emphasizing the paradoxical nature of finding connection
and solace within a place associated with illness and suffering. The poem suggests
that within the confines of the hospital, people become more vulnerable and, as a
result, more kind and compassionate toward one another. This highlights the
potential for human connection even in spaces that are traditionally isolating.

Both poems use vivid imagery to evoke a sense of detachment and alienation. In "The
Building," Larkin's precise language paints a stark picture of the sterile
environment, with phrases like "faint smell of beer" and "cocksure noise"
underscoring the impersonality of the surroundings. Similarly, in "Why I Like the
Hospital," Hoagland employs sensory imagery to bring the hospital setting to life.
The smell of disinfectant, the beeps and shushes, and the sight of doctors in
scrubs all contribute to the vivid portrayal of the hospital environment and the
sense of isolation within it.

Furthermore, both poems critique the dehumanizing effects of institutional spaces.


In "The Building," Larkin suggests that the modern urban landscape and the
structures within it have created a society in which individuals are disconnected
and isolated from one another. The poem implies that the pursuit of progress and
modernization has come at the expense of human connection. Similarly, in "Why I
Like the Hospital," Hoagland presents the hospital as a space where individuals are
reduced to their vulnerabilities and stripped of their usual defenses. However,
this vulnerability also opens the door to genuine human connection and compassion,
challenging the notion that institutional settings are solely isolating.

In summary, "The Building" by Philip Larkin and "Why I Like the Hospital" by Tony
Hoagland both explore the theme of isolation within institutional settings. They
employ vivid imagery to convey a sense of detachment and alienation, highlighting
the dehumanizing effects of modern life. While Larkin's poem focuses on the
isolation within the urban landscape and the physical building itself, Hoagland's
poem explores the potential for connection and compassion within the hospital
setting, challenging the notion that institutions are inherently isolating. Despite
their differences in approach, both poems shed light on the ways in which
institutional spaces can shape and influence human experiences of isolation.

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