Historical Biographical Lens

When reading the literary work of W.H. Auden, readers question, why is he obsessed with the idea of time? It seems to be a common character in Auden’s poems since he typically personifies it. He tends to question the role of Time and how it controls every aspect of life. In the poem, “If I Could Tell You,” Auden works through the idea of time being superior and how it brings an overall uncertainty— especially to love, and creates a desperation of knowing. By looking through a Historical Biographical Lens, it would make sense to identify the speaker of the poem as Auden himself. He seems to be writing an answer to a question that someone, at one point in time, has asked him. However, Auden is unable to answer the question, stating, “if I could tell you I would let you know” (line 3). The poem itself is riddled with complex ideas, bringing multiple meanings into question. Each line can be interpreted in multiple ways, which causes the reader to come to new conclusions each time he/she re-reads the poem.
Instantly, Time is personified in the poem with speaking and knowledgeable qualities. Time tells the speaker “I told you so” (line 1), which implies that Time knows
In the second stanza, the reader is faced with two situational ironies when Auden writes about clowns and dancing. As we grow older, our ability to move becomes limited. Perhaps that is why “we should stumble when musicians play” (line 5). This is an example of how time robs us of our youth and brings us closer to our death. But, that is not the only way we lose our youth. Clowns perform at children’s parties and act in immature, daft ways and “if we should weep when clowns put on their shows,” this hints at the idea that innocence is now lost (line 4). We can no longer enjoy the silliness of our childhood due to aging and becoming apart of the “adult world.” Being an adult means sharing the burdens of the world and knowing the evils that litter