Trevor Davis
Mr. Wright
English I 3
6 June 2002
[Title]
"Something there is that doesn't love a wall" (Frost 1). So begins the poem "Mending Wall" by Robert Frost. On the surface, this poem appears to be about two neighbors that hold conflicting opinions about the construction of a wall dividing their lands. One of the neighbors thinks that "'Good fences make good neighbors'" (27), where as the other sees no reason to make unnatural boundaries dividing their lands. When the poem is examined further, the reader can see that there is much more meaning in the poem. Robert Frost is said to be a nature-lover (Winnick 1), and this is reflected in Frost's poem, "Mending Wall." Frost uses symbolism quite frequently in "Mending Wall" to demonstrate what is wrong with the world and the fear many have about stepping away from tradition. Three things in Robert Frost's poem, "Mending Wall" serve as symbols throughout the poem: the narrator's neighbor symbolizes society (Mending Wall 2), the wall symbolizes tradition (Haslam 2), and the phrase "'Good fences make good neighbors'" (Frost 27) symbolizes the problems with Frost feels are wrong with society (Mending Wall 3).
The narrator's neighbor symbolizes man as a whole because he does not want to step away from tradition. The neighbor wants boundaries clearly marked so that he can know exactly what he can and cannot do. This attitude truly reflects the attitude of modern society. When the neighbor says that "'Good fences make good neighbors'" (27), he is saying that he needs boundaries to make his life simpler and less confusing. Society as a whole prefers to keep things simple to avoid any unnecessary difficulty or any confrontations that can be avoided by simply laying down rules and boundaries. When the neighbors meet to "set the wall between [them] once again" (14), they are setting boundaries that the neighbor is hoping will simplify his life. This approach to simplify things is very similar to the way society acts to make life as straightforward and trouble-free as they possibly can. The neighbor is trying to separate himself from others and create boundaries the same way different cultures separate themselves from one another. The creating of the wall shows that the neighbor is isolating himself so that he does not have to be involved with others that he fears because of their differences. This view that it is essential to create boundaries, or segregate, is reflected by society. The narrator's neighbor symbolizes the attitude and morals of society. (Mending Wall 2)
Mr. Wright
English I 3
6 June 2002
[Title]
"Something there is that doesn't love a wall" (Frost 1). So begins the poem "Mending Wall" by Robert Frost. On the surface, this poem appears to be about two neighbors that hold conflicting opinions about the construction of a wall dividing their lands. One of the neighbors thinks that "'Good fences make good neighbors'" (27), where as the other sees no reason to make unnatural boundaries dividing their lands. When the poem is examined further, the reader can see that there is much more meaning in the poem. Robert Frost is said to be a nature-lover (Winnick 1), and this is reflected in Frost's poem, "Mending Wall." Frost uses symbolism quite frequently in "Mending Wall" to demonstrate what is wrong with the world and the fear many have about stepping away from tradition. Three things in Robert Frost's poem, "Mending Wall" serve as symbols throughout the poem: the narrator's neighbor symbolizes society (Mending Wall 2), the wall symbolizes tradition (Haslam 2), and the phrase "'Good fences make good neighbors'" (Frost 27) symbolizes the problems with Frost feels are wrong with society (Mending Wall 3).
The narrator's neighbor symbolizes man as a whole because he does not want to step away from tradition. The neighbor wants boundaries clearly marked so that he can know exactly what he can and cannot do. This attitude truly reflects the attitude of modern society. When the neighbor says that "'Good fences make good neighbors'" (27), he is saying that he needs boundaries to make his life simpler and less confusing. Society as a whole prefers to keep things simple to avoid any unnecessary difficulty or any confrontations that can be avoided by simply laying down rules and boundaries. When the neighbors meet to "set the wall between [them] once again" (14), they are setting boundaries that the neighbor is hoping will simplify his life. This approach to simplify things is very similar to the way society acts to make life as straightforward and trouble-free as they possibly can. The neighbor is trying to separate himself from others and create boundaries the same way different cultures separate themselves from one another. The creating of the wall shows that the neighbor is isolating himself so that he does not have to be involved with others that he fears because of their differences. This view that it is essential to create boundaries, or segregate, is reflected by society. The narrator's neighbor symbolizes the attitude and morals of society. (Mending Wall 2)
