The Theme Of Innocence In Prayer Before Birth Vs. Macniece

The theme of innocence, or lack thereof, is explored in “Prayer Before Birth” and “Once Upon a Time”. MacNiece writes “forgive me, For the sins that in me the world shall commit” while Okara writes “There was a time indeed they used to shake hands with their hearts, but that’s gone, son”. Both poets attempt to show how innocence can be corrupted by the world. MacNiece tries to justify the sin that he will inevitably combat, crediting it to the world he lives in, while Okara believes that he could regain his innocence through his child. Both poets show how they have no control over there current condition, this is represented in their structures. Once upon a time is written in free verse which gives the reader a sense of no control. While Prayer …show more content…
While the former opts to emphasise the impotence of exacting control over ones life, the latter emphasise the lack of control one has on their life. Kipling writes “If you can dream; and not make dreams your master” as oppose to MacNiece who writes “My thoughts when they think me”. These quotes are polar opposites; MacNiece emphasis the lack of control he has over his life; by saying that even his thoughts, are not under his control, implying that he will not be able to control any of his decisions, almost as if he is brainwashed. Kipling on the other hand emphasise to his son the importance of control, by implying how even his dreams, which are meant to be free, must be under his control. Moreover the difference in approach to theme is conveyed through the structure of both. Prayer before birth is written in Free verse, showing the reader the lack of control MacNiece feels, where as ‘if-‘ is a Didactic poem, which serves as a warning for …show more content…
While “If-” champions adulthood, Half-Past Two and Once Upon a Time criticise adulthood and champion the innocence of childhood. Fanthorpe writes “He did Something Very Wrong (I forget what it was)”, while Okara writes “ show me how I used to laugh and smile once upon a time when I was like you”. Although Fanthorpe’s use of Capitalisation emphasises the significance of the “Something Very Wrong”, the fact the the writer cant seem to remember exactly what was wrong contradicts the importance of the act. Moreover the contradiction makes the reader wonder about the significance of some aspects of the school system. Moreover the hypocrisy of the writer not remember “Something Very Wrong” forces the reader to consider the hypocrisy of the school system and by extension adult hood. One the other hand Okara writing “When I was like you” illustrates his fondness of his childhood and his desire to return through his son. Both poets use made up compound words however to very different effects. Fanthorpe use compound words such as “Tvtime” to further emphasise the innocence of the boy and by extension how chance the school is for punishing him. This is while Okara uses compound words such as “homeface” to show the reader how even words have lost their meaning. This further illustrates to the leader the terrible effect society has had on him as he grew