Robert Frosts The Road Not Taken and A Worn Path by Eudora Welty - Essay Example

? Themes and Corresponding Works Introduction Robert Frost’s “The Road Not Taken” and A Worn Path by Eudora Welty both focus on the theme of a journey which they bring out using greatly symbolic language. Even as the two writers portray the same theme, the symbolism form and perspectives differ in some aspects. The two each show how life can change through the perspective of a journey undertaken. The two works however present a common feature in depicting the journey as full hurdles, hardships and the unexpected. A journey means different things to different people. To some people the various aspects of the journey are not included, and to them the journey is only distance travelled. The focus on the destination has many a time caused many people not to take into account the value of the other aspects of the journey. The hurdles and difficulties, the excitement and happiness all form elemental parts of the journey and influence a person’s outlook, fortune and character for a long time (Clugstone, 2010). Overview Welty and Frost both put forth their divergent perspectives by the use of different themes of the journey in their work. In the poem “The Road Not Taken,” Frost masterly makes a depiction of how choice at the present has a huge impact in future. The poem puts forth the inevitability of decision making in life (Sarcone & Welty 1998). Decisions can either be made according to the regular way of doing things or through the adoption of novel ways. According to Frost the journeyman must at one time reach a point in which the road branches which means he has to opt for one as he cannot take both. The decision to opt for one path is irreversible and irretraceable and this will affect the final destination and hence the choice has to be weighed carefully. Frost is for the idea of people making their choices not based on societal traditions or time honored ways but rather upon what they believe will lead them to the favorable destination. The thrust of Frost’s poem is that life is a journey in which different people make decisions which have lifelong impacts (Sarcone & Welty, 1998). As opposed to Robert Frost, Eudora Welty’s work “A Worn Path” is a short story on the same theme of life as a journey. The Worn Path is a story of an elderly African American woman who makes a journey through the forest into the city. Phoenix Jackson encounters many hurdles in the jungle such as; being threatened with a gun and tangled brush and fog. All these hurdles do not deter her from her quest to go into the city to look for her grandson. The idea of actions affecting future happenings crops up in “A Worn path” as Jackson is on a quest to find an antidote for a poison ingested by her grandson years back. The story also brings in the element of familial love as exhibited by Jackson besides the symbolism of a journey (Trouard, 1989). Theme The basic theme of the story is that of a journey even as the two writers use different modes of expression and perspectives to bring it out. Robert Frost’s “The Road Not Taken” elemental stand point is that of the inevitability of decisions. Another prominent point that is made by Frost is the assertion by Frost that choices should not be made on tradition but rather from what a person believes is right. Frost as opposed to Welty makes an assertion that a person always has a choice; the road most travelled or the less travelled. Welty on the other hand views life as a journey even though she is of the opinion that a journeyman sometimes does not have a choice (Orr, 2005). She exemplifies this through the determination and grit as shown by Jackson’s commitment to go to town by any means. For Jackson there is no choice in the matter of finding a remedy for her grandson; she will go into town no matter the costly or hindrances on her path. Style “A Worn Path” is narrated form a third person point of view and is intended buy Welty to evoke feelings of empathy in the reader since her actions and feelings are portrayed clearly. This point of view also enables the reader to look at Phoenix the way others perceive her. Frost on the other hand makes use of the first person narrator. The use of the first person narrator is intended to offer more insights into the theme of the poem. According to (Fagan 2007) since an elemental theme of the poem concerns the making of choices, Frost uses the first person narrator who is able to take control and influence his own destiny. As opposed to Jackson whose feelings the reader sin some instances cannot tell, the journeyman in “The Road Not Taken” leaves no ground for guessing since he is forward in making his intentions known (Harold & Little, 2010). The symbolism of “The Road Not Taken” is also given more weight since it the first person narrator has the effect of taking the reader along with him on his journey. The use of the form of a poem by Frost and the use of a short story by Welt also leads to differences in their styles. The use of poetry enables Frost to use relatively few images and symbols in his poem even though his poem has the desired impact. Welt on the other hand makes use of a short story since she uses the limited third person narrator. The use of a story enables Welt to develop her story and to inculcate into the readers the feeling of life as a journey. While the portrayal of conflict by the two writers is different, the end result that is aimed at has similar effect. In both works, hardships and hurdles are portrayed as pathways leading to fulfillment of desired objectives. Frost suggests that the taking of the road less travelled by has made him to be better off (Fagan, 2007). Welt also suggests that hardships and hurdles that are faced by Jackson give her more determination. Character The main character in “The Road Not Taken” is the narrator who discusses the consequences of choices made. The characters symbolize the choices made by people in everyday life whether good or bad. The use of the poem by Robert Frost while making his message more forceful through condensing his message, however makes his character lack humanness (Fagan, 2007). Welt makes use of a limited third person character which makes for easier development of character even as the intensity of the message is sacrificed. Frost is deliberate in making use of the first person narrator as he is interested in portraying the person as an ordinary person. Welt has made use of an African American woman which makes the work be restricted as it may be seen through the lens of a woman or an African American. Welt’s character is controlled and second guessed by both the reader and the writer but Frost’s character symbolizes the freewill as he chooses whatever path he wishes (Harold & Little, 2010). While Frost’s character symbolizes the rewards that accrue from making certain choices, Welts character epitomizes just the opposite. Phoenix Jackson has no choice; she is driven by a will to find an antidote for her grandson’s illness. Jackson is a symbol of manipulation, selfishness and determination that are a staple of the human desire to reach their destination. Frost’s character on the other hand is a symbol of the noble and inquisitive nature of humanity which is epitomized in the taking of the road less travelled by which leads to satisfaction. Frost’s character is a symbol of the choices that are available to humanity in the determination of their futures (Harold & Little, 2010). Welt on the other hand, is of the opinion that a journey does not present choices but rather hurdles. For Welt the end result is determined by the determination of the journeyman as opposed to the choices made. Symbolism The use of symbolism in the works by Frost and Welty is intended to aid the reader in getting a clearer comprehension of the writer’s purpose. The first line of “The Road Not Taken” introduces the color yellow which symbolizes decay or aging. The two diverging roads are a symbol of the many choices in life. Even as the poet continues and mentions a grassier path and a worn out black path, the author is deliberate in his choice of symbols. The color green is usually considered as a symbol of rebirth and regeneration while black is a color of death. The choice of the green path is therefore not a surprise since regeneration and life is the wish of nearly every person (Clugstone, 2010). Welt’s story is of Jackson Phoenix who is a Negro woman in the quest to go to town to find an antidote for her grandson. The very name of Phoenix conjures memories of the mythical bird Phoenix which is reborn from its ashes after burning itself. The name Phoenix is perhaps symbolic of the resilience of Phoenix Jackson in facing tribulations and still persevering and enduring in her quest (Trouard, 1989). In “The Road Not Taken”, life’s struggles are represented by the bushes and hilly nature of the road less travelled. After Jackson’s climb up the hill she comes up to the view of pine trees and then she is required to pass through oaks. Pine trees have always been associated with immortality and life while the oaks due to their age are typically associated with wisdom and strength (Orr, 2005). The character in Frost’s road taken undergoes many hardships in reaching his destination such as walking through the underbrush and up steep hills. Frost’s character reaches his destination but for Welt’s character the journey is an endless endeavor as she is forced to make a journey every time her grandson is taken ill. Phoenix makes a journey through a worn path which is symbolic of the many times that humans have to battle hardships. The fact that Phoenix is always travelling up and down the worn path is symbolic in that it reflects the unending hardships that man has to go through in everyday life. Frost character’s journey is symbolic of the lack of knowledge of the future which humans have to contend with in the making of decisions. The narrator decides to take the grassy road not because he is sure that it is the right road but because he had to make a choice. The sigh that is made by him is a reflection of his choosing based upon a whim. The narrator says that he opts for the road less travelled by and keeps the other for another day. This is symbolic of the important irreversible choices made in life as he says he cannot turn back (Clugstone, 2010). The journey by Welty on the other hand represents the choices made in everyday life. Jackson has to make the journey every time her son gets ill and she is determined to go to bring him the medicine every time. Welt’s journey thus affirms that the destination in life is attained through determination and courage as opposed to the whimsical Frost character (Sarcone & Welty, 1998). The symbolism employed in The Road Not Taken and A Worn Path show the experiences of their characters as being symbolic of life journeys. It is required of both characters to overcome obstacles in order to attain their destinations. Conclusion Robert Frost let his character make his choice and he is happy that he made the right one.   Eudora Welty’s Phoenix has to make the same expedition over and over again, but she has the endurance to prevail over her hindrances. Frost makes use of the symbolism of the forked road from which the main theme of choice on which the poem is based is developed. Frost’s character opts for the road less travelled by as opposed to the one which had been trodden black. The narrator Opts for the one less travelled by and asserts that it made all the difference even as he asserts that the road was chosen from a whim rather than from knowledge of what lay ahead. Welt’s Phoenix Jackson on the other hand is mostly symbolized by her naming to the mythical phoenix representing her determination and strength of regeneration. Her story of walking back and forth from the village into the city also offers a symbolic effect on the journey as it is related to real life. It can thus be said that Frost’s The Road Not Taken and Welt’s A Worn Path epitomize the symbolism of a journey. References Clugston, R. (2010). Journey into literature.  San Diego, CA.  Bridgepoint Education. Fagan, D. (2007). Critical companion to Robert Frost: A literary reference to his life and work. London: Facts on File, Cop. Harold, B., & Little, M. (2010). Bloom's how to write about Robert Frost. New York: Blooms Literary Criticism. Orr, Elaine. (2005). Unsettling every definition of otherness: Another reading of Eudora Welty’s “A Worn Path”. New York: South Atlantic Modern Language Association. Sarcone, E., & Welty, E. (1998). A Worn Path. Fort Worth: Harcourt Brace College Publishers. Trouard, D. (1989). Eudora Welty: eye of the storyteller. Kent: Kent State University Press. Read More