Discuss the Relationship Between Men And Women in Frost’s Poetry.

Answer

Discuss the relationship between men and women in Frost’s poetry.

Robert Frost’s (1874-1963) poetry mainly deals with a realistic attitude toward nature. Again, the relationship between man and woman is also a striking theme of Frost’s poetry. Misunderstanding, psychological tension, and hidden love between the couple are exposed throughout Frost’s two celebrated poems, “Home Burial” and “The Death of a Hired Man”.  

Emotional aspect: Both “Home Burial” and “The Death of a Hired Man” are heart-touching, and they often make readers cry. In “Home Burial,” the wife, Amy, is heartbroken after losing her son. She feels her husband doesn’t understand her pain because he’s focused on practical things like arranging their son’s burial. But deep down, he’s also suffering. He knows he needs to stay strong for both of them. The wife says, 

I won’t have grief so 

If I can change it. Oh, I won’t, I won’t!

This outburst from the wife reveals her intense emotional turmoil and determination to hold onto her grief as if by doing so, she can preserve the memory of their lost child. It highlights her resistance to her husband’s attempts to move on.

In “The Death of a Hired Man,” Mary is devastated when she hears that Silas has died. Her sadness shows how much she cares for him. These poems show how grief can affect people differently and make us think about the bonds we share with others.

Lack of Communication: The most common complaint among married couples is a lack of communication. In the poem “Home Burial,” Robert Frost gives a glimpse of the conflicts caused by a lack of communication and misunderstanding between a husband and wife upon the death of their first and only child. Their conflict is partly rooted in the husband’s selfishness, revealed by his insensitivity, narrow-mindedness, and pride. Actually, Amy’s husband is not selfish or narrow-minded. He is also in deep pain but never revealed like his wife, Amy. Here, the poet says,  

A man can’t speak of his own child that’s dead.

Misunderstanding between the couple: Because of the lack of communication, there is a misunderstanding between a couple of Home Burials. Amy seems to his husband to be incredibly selfish, but he is not. Amy’s lamentations were limitless, disturbing her husband more from the inside. But she never tried to realize him.   

The Passage of Time: The passage of time and its impact on relationships is another prominent theme. In “The Oven Bird,” Frost metaphorically addresses the changing dynamics in relationships:

The bird would cease and be as other birds.

This line reflects on how time changes everything, including relationships. Just as the bird’s song changes with the seasons, the bonds between men and women develop, sometimes leading to distance, other times to a deeper connection.

Love and Affection: Despite the conflicts and misunderstandings, Frost’s poetry also celebrates the love and affection between men and women. In “To Earthward,” the speaker reminisces about the intensity of young love:

Love at the lips was touch 

As sweet as I could bear.

This line captures the tenderness and passion that characterize romantic relationships. It emphasizes the deep emotional bonds that can exist between partners.

To conclude, it becomes quite clear that, in both poems, Frost reveals the exact relationship between man and woman, between husband and wife. Their primary tendency may differ from one another, and there may be a contrast in their ideas, but they will continue their relationship and love together for their betterment.