Warning – Jenny Joseph

When I am an old woman I shall wear purple

With a red hat which doesn’t go, and doesn’t suit me.
And I shall spend my pension on brandy and summer gloves
And satin sandals, and say we’ve no money for butter.
I shall sit down on the pavement when I’m tired
And gobble up samples in shops and press alarm bells
And run my stick along the public railings
And make up for the sobriety of my youth.
I shall go out in my slippers in the rain
And pick flowers in other people’s gardens
And learn to spit.

You can wear terrible shirts and grow more fat

And eat three pounds of sausages at a go
Or only bread and pickle for a week
And hoard pens and pencils and beermats and things in boxes.

But now we must have clothes that keep us dry

And pay our rent and not swear in the street
And set a good example for the children.
We must have friends to dinner and read the papers.

But maybe I ought to practise a little now?

So people who know me are not too shocked and surprised
When suddenly I am old, and start to wear purple.

About the author

Jennifer Ruth Joseph was born on 7 May 1932 in South Hill, Carpenter
Road, Edgbaston, Birmingham to Florence (née Cotton) and Louis Joseph, an
antiques dealer. The family were non-observant Jews. Her father's career led to
the family relocating to Buckinghamshire, and Joseph was evacuated to Devon
early during the Second World War. She later credited this experience with her
fascination with the changing light.
She attended Badminton school in Bristol. She won a scholarship to study
English literature at St Hilda’s College, Oxford (1950).
SUMMARY OF WARNING

‘Warning’ by Jenny Joseph describes what the future has in store as one ages
and throws off societal restraints and expectations. The poem begins with the
speaker describing a number of different things she is going to be able to do
when she is an “old woman.” All of these things are impossible now because of
one’s ingrained sense of what is socially acceptable. The speaker plans to wear
whatever she wants, eat as many samples from shops as she can, and say
whatever comes to her mind. 

In the final lines, the poem returns to the present day and presents a contrast
between what one has to worry about now and the significant decrease in
worries in the future. This short section makes it clear to the speaker that she
would rather go ahead and start living freely now. Her choice is made with her
own pleasure in mind but her actions will also serve as a warning for the future.
Everyone will know the type of person they’ll eventually have to deal with
every day. 

ANALYSIS

Stanza 1

When I am an old woman I shall wear purple

With a red hat which doesn’t go, and doesn’t suit me.
And I shall spend my pension on brandy and summer gloves
And satin sandals, and say we’ve no money for butter.
I shall sit down on the pavement when I’m tired
And gobble up samples in shops and press alarm bells
And run my stick along the public railings
And make up for the sobriety of my youth.
I shall go out in my slippers in the rain
And pick flowers in other people’s gardens
And learn to spit.
The poem opens with the narrator stating that when she is an old woman, she
will “wear purple with a red hat which doesn’t go, and doesn’t suit me.” From
this, we assume that purple is not commonly worn among young women of
society, and further- looking tidy and put-together is important. This is why she
specifies “doesn’t go and doesn’t suit me.” She wants to live without caring
about how she looks and whether her clothes match, instead simply wearing
what she likes. Very interestingly, it is Warning’s opening line that in 1998
inspired the formation of the Red Hat Society, an international organization
that was originally for women above fifty years. Now, however, it is open to
women of all ages to promote cross-generational friendship. This also proves
the reach and relatability of Joseph’s poem.

The narrator then says she will “spend my pension on brandy and summer
gloves and satin sandals, and say we’ve no money for butter.” Usually people
say they do not have money for luxuries such as expensive clothes or drinks, but
make sure to save up for the typical necessities. The narrator expresses her
desire to do the exact opposite of what people normally do. She wants
to “gobble up samples in shops and press alarm bells and run my stick along
the public railings.” These are all considered ‘rude’ or ‘unmannerly’
activities, and those who engage in these, especially in their youth, will
be heavily criticized. However, they seem entertaining and the narrator wishes
to experience such a thrill. These activities symbolize freedom, which we do
not always get to experience in the strict confines of the society.

This is further implied in the next line, “And make up for the sobriety of my
youth.” Youth is the time to experience different emotions and have moments
of enjoyment, but the narrator is spending hers in complete seriousness and
meticulousness, without even a brief chance to relish the beauty of the world.
She wishes to compensate for the loss of her joyful youth in her old age, doing
all the things she wishes she could have done before. The final lines of the
stanza, “I shall go out in my slippers in the rain and pick flowers in other
people’s gardens and learn to spit.”, creates a contrast. Because though all
these acts against society’s expectation, the tenderness of picking flowers
versus the rashness of spitting forms a fascinating duality.
Stanza 2

You can wear terrible shirts and grow more fat

And eat three pounds of sausages at a go
Or only bread and pickle for a week
And hoard pens and pencils and beermats and things in boxes 

In the next stanza, there is a slight shift in the tone. While in the first stanza,
the narrator focused more on the things she personally wished to do in her old
age- speaking about herself with the words “When I am old” and “I shall.” She
now shifts to a more general point of view, addressing the readers with the
words “you.” It seems that after talking about her own desire, she is reminding
the readers about all the excitements of old age, as though urging them to
understand her perspective and join in the enthusiasm with her. “You can wear
terrible shirts and grow more fat and eat three pounds of sausages at a
go” represents the possibility of not caring what the public would say about
one’s appearance. Not many people would scorn older women for their choice
of dress. Similarly, the next line- “Or only bread and pickle for a week and
hoard pens and pencils and beermats and things in boxes.”- signifies the ability
to do whatever they want without judgmental stares and comments.
Stanza 3

But now we must have clothes that keep us dry

And pay our rent and not swear in the street
And set a good example for the children.
We must have friends to dinner and read the papers.

In the third stanza, the narrator explains rather despondently that for now,
she must resign herself to the confines of the society. She must do the same
things as everyone else, presumably to maintain a good reputation in the
social and professional world– only then will she be able to earn her money
and make ends meet. The reason we assume this is because one’s connections
and network in society, as well as their image with their neighbours and co-
workers is based on the way they conduct themselves, and this plays a huge role
in their later life. It decides the way they are treated and the opportunities they
receive. Besides this, the narrator mentions that she must “set a good example
for the children.” Therefore, she continues to adhere to a structure. She says that
adults must “have clothes that keep us dry and pay our rent and not swear in
the street. We must have friends to dinner and read the papers.” These are all
very typical things expected of adults- the narrator uses them to represent an
ordinary standard.
Stanza 4

But now we must have clothes that keep us dry

And pay our rent and not swear in the street
And set a good example for the children.
We must have friends to dinner and read the papers.

In the final stanza, she returns to first-person perspective. From all this

musing, the narrator has confirmed that the old-age lifestyle she is planning
is far more appealing than the one she lives now. Though she does not want to
adopt all those habits and ventures immediately, she does wonder whether
she “ought to practice a little now.” This does not mean suddenly spitting on
streets and lying on the pavement- rather, it is an indication that the narrator
wants to step out of her comfort zone, and the zone defined by society, even if it
is just by an inch. She wishes not to waste her youth living in others’ demands-
so she wonders if maybe she can “practice” a little as a young adult- do
something of her own will, no matter how small it may be.

She ends with: “So people who know me are not too shocked and surprised
when suddenly I am old, and start to wear purple.” This highlights two things–
one is the importance one gives to other people’s opinions. We have already
seen the role society’s standards play in one’s daily life, but the emphasis in this
line on “people who know me” brings to light a different perspective. Usually,
one is expected to be less reserved or careful around people whom they know
well. But from this line, we realise that no matter how close one is to another
person, there is always a certain conduct to display, and we do give importance
to their view of us, even subconsciously. The second point to note is that out of
all the things the narrator listed in the poem, she chooses to start with wearing
purple, which is based on appearance. This may allude to the fact that society’s
first judgement is often based on looks rather than actions. Therefore, the
narrator thinking that she may as well start wearing purple now, in her youth,
is symbolic of her step forward, out of the confines of society and towards
her own happiness.
Themes

The poem plays with the assumption that old age brings the end of pleasures
enjoyed through life. The poet’s pleasures actually increase as she realises that
when old she can disregard the strictures and opinions of others, shun rules and
do what she wants.

Literary Devices

Alliteration: satin sandals

Imagery: “press alarm bells”, “red hat”, “summer gloves”, “gobble up

samples”

Symbols: everything she describes are things that children do, and they are
symbolic of the fact that she is a bit envious of children.