Walls have been a part of human history for as long as we can remember. From the Great Wall of China to the Western Wall in Jerusalem to the Berlin Wall, humans civilizations have been building walls since the beginning of recorded history. After such a long time, the building of walls has become a tradition. The poem “Mending Wall” by Robert Frost questions the meaning behind this tradition. The poem explains how a force opposes walls, and reveals why we have a tradition of building walls even though walls are unnatural. “Mending Wall” shows how the tradition of building walls goes against nature, but still exists because of our fear.
The narrator’s neighbor foolishly supports the tradition of walls, even if he doesn’t know why that tradition …show more content…
This is evident through the narrator. Throughout the poem, the narrator constantly questions the purpose of a wall. He notices the force that acts against the wall. He realizes he can’t explain the need for a wall between the two properties. He even begins to suggest to his neighbor that they don’t need to build a wall in certain areas, like the apple orchard. The narrator seems to be just on the precipice of understanding why walls are perverse to nature. However, this all changes once he sees his neighbor in a different light. The narrator describes his neighbor as “Bringing a stone grasped firmly by the top / In each hand, like an old-stone savage armed” (Frost 39-40). All of the sudden, the doubt the narrator has for the purposes of walls disappears. The scenic surrounding becomes dark, and the narrator’s fear sets in. He now understands why humans build walls. The narrator’s fear of his neighbor makes him submit to the tradition of …show more content…
Frost shows this skeptical thinking through the narrator. While the neighbor blindly follows the customs of his father, the narrator suggests they leave the property open in a peaceful notion. However, this challenge is immediately dropped once the narrator views his neighbor in a more sinister light. He finally understands why walls are built because he begins to fear his neighbor. Frost gives this explanation for why this tradition refuses to die. As long as humans experience fear or mistrust, they will continue to build
The narrator’s neighbor foolishly supports the tradition of walls, even if he doesn’t know why that tradition …show more content…
This is evident through the narrator. Throughout the poem, the narrator constantly questions the purpose of a wall. He notices the force that acts against the wall. He realizes he can’t explain the need for a wall between the two properties. He even begins to suggest to his neighbor that they don’t need to build a wall in certain areas, like the apple orchard. The narrator seems to be just on the precipice of understanding why walls are perverse to nature. However, this all changes once he sees his neighbor in a different light. The narrator describes his neighbor as “Bringing a stone grasped firmly by the top / In each hand, like an old-stone savage armed” (Frost 39-40). All of the sudden, the doubt the narrator has for the purposes of walls disappears. The scenic surrounding becomes dark, and the narrator’s fear sets in. He now understands why humans build walls. The narrator’s fear of his neighbor makes him submit to the tradition of …show more content…
Frost shows this skeptical thinking through the narrator. While the neighbor blindly follows the customs of his father, the narrator suggests they leave the property open in a peaceful notion. However, this challenge is immediately dropped once the narrator views his neighbor in a more sinister light. He finally understands why walls are built because he begins to fear his neighbor. Frost gives this explanation for why this tradition refuses to die. As long as humans experience fear or mistrust, they will continue to build