Mr Bleaney

In this poem the persona looks at a room to rent that belonged to a Mr Bleaney, described as a sad isolated character, living in a bare neglected room, however the persona sees himself in him. The repetitive rhyme scheme reflects the repepitive life of Mr Bleaney. 

Stanza 1:

• 'he stayed the whole time he was at the bodies, till they moved him' shows he didnt have a permanent residence and lacked stability and control of his own life, reinforced by 'till they moved him' which shows how he a more of an object than person, and could mean he died. The 'bodies' is a colloquial term for a car making employment he had, but also connotes him not being alive. 
• 'flowered curtains thin and frayed' connotes the neglect in this room and suggests a state of mental deterioration. The 'flowered' suggests that nature is being destroyed in this room, as if it is almost poisonous. 
• 'fall to within five inches of the sill' suggests that Mr Bleaney, like the curtains didnt quite fit, with 'fall' reinforcing the idea of a lack of control. 

Stanza 2:

• 'whose windows shows a strip of building land' demonstrates Larkin's negative views of industrialisation, and the lack of hope there is around this room as there are no good parts. 
• 'bed, upright chair, sixty-watt bulb' shows the bareness of the room, and the lack of imagination there is there, the use of the list showing the repetitiveness of it. All these practical things suggests a lack of fun in his life, suggesting it was purely functional. The bulb also shows his surroundings werent bright. 

Stanza 3:

• 'no room for books or bags' suggests any leisure in his life was not even possible. 
• 'I'll take it' shocks the reader as it follows the list of uninviting aspects of the property. We then realise as we read on the similarities between the persona and Mr Bleaney as  he says 'i lie where mr Bleaney lay, and stub my fags on the same saucer-souvenir'. 

Stanza 4:

• 'stuffing my ears with cotton wool' suggests trying to block out life, and the noises that make it interesting which may be one of the reasons the life of Mr Bleaney was so dull. It also suggests that isolation is something he wants. 
• 'i know his habits' reinforces the idea that his life was repetitive and predictable. 
• 'jabbering set' shows Larkin's views on modern things. 

Stanza 5:

• 'he kept on plugging' reiterates the repetition in his life, as does his annual visit to family members, 'the frinton folk who put him up for summer holidays'. 'Put him up' suggests he isnt wanted, even by his family. 

Stanza 6:

• 'if he stood and watched the frigid wind' suggests he should turn to nature, that it can give you answers and could suggest that he sees himself in the 'frigid wind'. 
• 'telling himself this was home, and grinned, and shivered' implies however much he tries to convince himself this is where he is happy, it will never be true and he will not be able to feel completely at home and comfortable. 

Stanza 7:

• 'how we live measures our own nature' shows he is trying to convince himself this life doesnt define him, but it does.
• 'One hired box' evokes pity in it being all he has, and he doesnt even own it, as well as connoting a coffin reiterating his death. 
• the final line 'i dont know' shows the uncertainty of life.