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Influence of Robert Frost’s Poem Through a person’s lifetime, he needs to make a decision almost every single day. These decisions could start from the simplest as to choosing his clothes or to more complex aspects of life. It is a fact that most decisions are being influenced by external factors whether directly or indirectly and some are made through “in the moment” kind of feel towards the subject at hand. A person is gambling throughout his lifetime as to how he would direct his life and this decisions also affect others.
This is where the poem The Road Not Taken by Robert Frost comes into one’s life and inspires it directly or indirectly. Life is a journey where every turn is a major turning point. One decision can make or break a life-long expedition. Life is influenced so much by time and like what Frost stated in the first stanza of his poem, it is such a disappointment that one cannot travel a certain path and knows exactly what would happen through its journey there. There are other factors that should be taken into consideration like the time and opportunity that is presented at a given situation.
One can consider the possible pros and cons that might occur during the circumstances. Things may present to be more appealing at the first sight but may have complex hurdles along the way which the person would not know how to overcome it unless it is already right under his nose (10). Frost put into metaphor a person’s life and a traveler’s journey to an unknown place. It would be a pity not to explore ideas at the same time to know the beauty and the consequences that life or the journey may bring.
There are roads or opportunities which may present itself as a totally disastrous event yet at the onset yet as one goes through this path, the more fulfilling it is becoming for the person. This is usually the road not taken especially in recent years as more and more people would choose the easier path that may bring instant gratification rather than the one which may need time before gathering any form of fulfillment. Others may decide towards the road because of status-quo, it is just like ordering the usual at a fast-food chain at the corner of the street.
There is no adventure in it and simply represents a routine (10). On the third stanza of the poem, Frost gave an example as to what may one thinks if there are two ideas presented having an identical onset presentation. However, these ideas may have and will have different path struggles which may incur various outcomes. One cannot go back to the starting point and take the other one just like when one is playing a board game. Life is just a one-take gamble due to one very important factor, which is time.
People may not be pleased if one would break the status-quo or go against the will of the majority. Yet there are still people who would choose the road less travelled as this is where their heart and mind is at peace (10). A person may be judged by the decisions that he made during his lifetime but these decisions made his life unique and happy though others may not see it in the “normal” way. Though one can feel sorry for going against the tide, yet going to the road not taken by the majority could make all the difference in the world.
If one would only think of what others would think of him, would he be making a difference or just living another person’s life and dreams. Robert Frost gave people an idea that going against status-quo will not qualify a person to be burned alive (10).Works CitedFrost, Robert. The Road Not Taken, Birches, and Other Poems. Claremont, CA: Coyote Canyon Press. 2010.
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