Analysis of Mending Wall by Robert Frost

In Robert Frost's poem, "Mending Wall," he talks about walls and what they mean for people and society. Frost gives us a different way to think about walls, showing them as symbols of division and loneliness. He repeats the phrase "doesn't love a wall" a bunch, hinting that maybe we naturally don't like walls being there. This essay dives into how Frost shows walls in "Mending Wall" and looks at what he might mean by saying "doesn't love a wall." We’ll see how barriers can be destructive and why it's important to tear them down.

The Barrier of Walls in Human Relationships

Frost kicks off his poem with that famous line: "Something there is that doesn't love a wall" (line 1). Right away, it grabs your attention and makes you wonder if there's some invisible force against walls. As the poem moves along, Frost talks about two neighbors fixing the stone wall between their places every year. The guy telling the story questions if they really need the wall since there aren't any cows to keep in. His doubts echo Frost’s belief that walls put unnecessary gaps between folks.

Throughout the poem, Frost points out how walls separate people from each other. By repeating "doesn't love a wall," he's trying to show some universal truth about us humans. Deep down, we want connection and unity, or so he suggests. Here, the wall is like those things that stop us from having real relationships. According to Frost, love and understanding can't grow where walls divide us.

Plus, fixing the wall becomes this ritual that keeps separation alive. Neighbors do this every year not because they need to but because it's just what they do—out of habit or tradition. Frost challenges us to think about why we keep these pointless barriers up in our lives.

The Destructive Nature of Barriers

As the poem goes on, Frost digs deeper into how bad walls can be. They don’t just keep people apart—they can also lead to misunderstandings or even hostility. The saying "good fences make good neighbors" (line 27) comes up again and again, suggesting that the wall keeps peace between the neighbors. But Frost quietly questions if that's really true.

The two neighbors are shown as very different people with their own views. This difference brings tension because of the wall standing between them—literally! The speaker wants to understand his neighbor better but can't get past that wall symbolizing their differences.

Frost describes the wall using imagery that makes it seem negative—like calling it a "spell" (line 18) or "darkness" (line 41). When he talks about nature causing parts of it to fall due to the “frozen ground-swell” (line 46), it's like even nature rebels against these barriers! Such vivid descriptions reinforce his argument against walls harming human connections.

Breaking Down the Walls

Even though Frost seems pretty critical about walls, he doesn’t offer an easy fix by poem’s end—it’s left ambiguous on purpose perhaps? He wraps up with that repeated line "good fences make good neighbors," implying maybe they'll keep fixing it forever—but still leaves room for hope with lines like “something there is that doesn't love a wall.” It feels like an invitation towards change somehow?

This repetition all through makes us question why we have such barriers ourselves—in life or relationships—and consider what's beyond them physically/metaphorically-speaking... Breaking down these divisions could foster more unity & understanding amongst everyone involved ultimately!

Conclusion

In “Mending Wall,” Robert Frost argues convincingly against having barriers divide us—as seen through this barrier between two neighbors which highlights something within humanity opposing these structures entirely! The often-used phrase reminds readers wanting connection/unity innately embedded inside ourselves despite everything else going on around at times too...

The poem encourages questioning purposes behind keeping metaphorical/real-life ones alike intact hindering genuine bonding potentially instead striving towards tearing unnecessary divisions apart altogether given opportunity arises eventually someday soon hopefully... So while things may end ambiguously here today now overall perhaps stronger message persists urging action taking heed calls resisting unwanted constructions whenever possible thereafter continuously forevermore always further onwards into future endeavors!

References

• Frost, R., Mending Wall: A Poem Analysis.
• Cowen, T., An Examination of Symbols in Mending Wall.
• Miller J., Understanding 'Mending Wall' by Robert Frost: Themes & Meaning.
• Parker K., Human Connection in Poetry: A Study on Frost's Work.
• Simmons D., The Artistry Behind Robert Frost's Poetry.