Structure

• The 1st stanza deals with Larkin's rather cynical view of marriage and deals with the idea that the young mothers are isolated.

  Larkin's use of language emphasises the recurring theme of emptiness within the young mothers and how regimented their lives have become.
• In the 2nd Stanza, Larkin moves from the general view into the individual and describes the mothers as being alone with little support from their working husbands.
• In the 3rd Stanza, Larkin focuses back to the children and how because of them, the mothers are unable to live their own lives and they are merely looking in. Their dreams, aspirations and needs have been put to the side.