the cool store

'The large cool store' was written in the 1960's by Philip Larkin and attempts to reflect the division between the higher class bourgeoisie and the lower class proletariats. the bourgeoisie was seen as the 'ruling class' and to be the group that controlled big businesses and corporations whereas the proletariats where the working class individuals who worked for them for a small wage at the base. at the time, proletariats where seen to be exploited and in this poem, seem to aspire to be like their superiors. 'the large cool store' was a fitting title to convey this as it refers to a large production (marks and spencers) who sold cheaper yet fashionable pieces which possibly reflects the clothing typical to someone in a higher class than them.

the shop in question is described as 'cool' which has an oxymoronic meaning as it could connote the feeling inside the shop as cold, therefore an unpleasant environment. similarly, this description could also be used by larkin to express the qualities of the bourgeoisies who own this corporation, these being 'cold, emotioneless or cynical' individuals. However it could infer a conflicting meaning that the shop's range of clothing is 'cool' meaning fashionable which would enable the proletariats to fit in with the rest of the higher class. despite this second inference, the capitalist society at the time would mean that the Bourgeoise had Hegemony over the lower working class proletariats which meant that the groups would never mix despite their efforts to fit in eventhough the means of production in clothing tried to tell them it was possible.

A Marxist critic would  argue that not the description of the clothes as 'simple sizes plainly' suggests another conflicting meaning as this could show them as not only dull garments but also used to show the plain and unoriginal qualities of the mass in the early 1960's. this idea of a culture with little individuality is enforced when the colour palette of 'brown and greys, maroons and navy' is used to describe the clothing sold in the shop. due to the fact that the clothes being described would be for proletariats to wear during the day, it gives us an insight to the type of work they would be enduring in relation to the boring and basic practical wear being sold to that group. this enforces an idea of indoctrination of a false consciousness to this group as this is the only thing available to them in relation to the clothes available to someone of a higher class and with not such a physically demanding job.

secondly, the next stanza moves on to picture the lives of factory workers and the shops target market. Larkin describes their houses as 'low terraced houses' which portray that they live in more run down areas as a result of their social class which emphasises their economic situation in comparison to that of the bourgeoisie. he then goes on to say 'factory, yard and site' which he does to highlight the labour driven jobs that these particular people would have to endure due to being inferior to the ruling class.

when Larkin refers back to the shop, he describes the mens clothing to be 'heaps of shirts and trousers' this infers that they are not driven by aesthetics, but are more simple when it comes to clothing. in comparison to this, women are shown here to have that of a materialistic nature and describes clothing to be worn at night 'modes for night'. he does this to emphasise the difference no only between the bourgeoisie and proletariat but also between that of men and women and does this to highlight which group would be more vulnerable to false consciousness. the garments are described as 'machine embroidered' and 'thin as blouses' this comment is not just used to present the difference in appearance but also to reflect lower class women as a whole. the use of the particular word 'thin' makes us adopt the representation of woman as empty or vacuous and individuals of dramatic nature. looking at this section through a Marxist lens shows us the different types of people in the capitalist society as the bourgeoisie has the freedom away from work to enjoy social activity, however, proletariats do not have this privilege as much due to the fact they are exploited by the system and do not benefit from capitalism. Reification is also used as they are presented as nothing more than a commodity in the society the poem is set in, however looking at it with a modern view helps to show the audience how much society has changed.

similarly, Larkin continues onto the next stanza with colour imagery however, in this instance they are more positive and help describe the clothes worn at night and are presented as more luxury than previously: 'lemon, sapphire, moss-green'. the fact that this type of clothing would be available at relatively cheap prices at the 'store' for lower classes, promotes the illusion that they would be able to escape their position in society due to the clothes they wear. this advertising would be directed by the bourgeoisie to promote these superficial and materialistic attitudes to make the proletariats believe they could be equal to them when realistically this could never be achieved. this point is reinforced by Larkin when he describes this consumer culture to be 'unreal wishes' and the whole idea is subject to false consciousness created by the ruling class to exploit the proletariats of more of their money. the lower class individuals would be alienated from themselves while trying to fit into a culture they don't belong in, by giving into consumer desire. As a result, this would cause them to resent their own social class by trying to fit into the superstructure.

Overall, Larkin infers that desire to be part of a certain culture is 'synthetic' meaning their wishes are man made to suit consumerism as this makes people believe they need to own the latest trends or be like someone else to be superior and have power which is essentially fake. As a result of the higher classes exploiting the lower classes, they are achieving more and more as they are the only ones benefiting from the cycle that consumerism creates as a result of the illusions made by them. There will never be an ultimate equality between classes due to the fact that there is still a clear division regarding the classes and what makes them work.