Theme of Alienation in the Poems of Robert Frost

Answer

Depict the theme of alienation in the poems of Robert Frost. [NU. 2006, 2011, 2013]

The Pulitzer Prize-winning American poet Robert Frost’s (1874-1963) poetry often deals with the theme of alienation. Frost explores how individuals experience separation from others, from society, or even from themselves. This theme is prevalent in many of his works. In these works,  the characters frequently find themselves isolated, either physically or emotionally.

Alienation from Society: In “Acquainted with the Night,” first published in 1927, Frost presents a speaker who is deeply alienated from the world around him. The poem describes a solitary walk through a city at night.

I have been one acquainted with the night…

I have outwalked the furthest city light.

On his walk, the speaker deliberately avoids interaction, even lowering his eyes when passing a watchman. This act of avoiding eye contact suggests a sense of guilt, shame, or perhaps a desire to remain unnoticed. The speaker’s meeting with the “luminary clock” showing time as “neither wrong nor right” highlights his isolation.

Human Connection: In “The Death of the Hired Man,” published in Frost’s 1914 collection North of Boston, alienation is explored through the character of Silas. Silas is an old farmhand who returns to the farm of Warren and Mary, where he once worked. Silas’s alienation is both social and familial. Warren sees Silas as untrustworthy and unreliable. He is unwilling to let Silas work for them again. This fact reflects Silas’s helplessness and alienation. The old Silas is very ill and he has no home. However, Mary believes Silas has returned to his own home. Mary says:

He has come home to die:

Mary recognizes Silas’s need for dignity and a sense of belonging. Again, poor Silas does not go to his brother, who is a bank director. This fact emphasizes Silas’ isolation. Ultimately, Silas dies, underscoring the tragic nature of his isolation.

Yearning for Lost Innocence: “Birches” presents a different angle on alienation. In this poem, the speaker feels a deep sense of separation from the joys of childhood and the carefree nature of youth. The poem begins with the speaker imagining a boy swinging on birch trees. It is a memory that contrasts sharply with the speaker’s present reality. The speaker longs to escape the burdens of adulthood and return to a simpler, more innocent time. As the speaker says,

So was I once myself a swinger of birches.

And so I dream of going back to be.

However, he knows this is impossible. This desire to return emphasizes the speaker’s alienation from his past and the joyful natural world.

Barriers and Alienation: In “Mending Wall,” Frost explores the theme of alienation through the ritual of rebuilding a wall between two neighbors. The speaker questions the necessity of the wall. The speaker suggests that it creates a barrier not just physically, but emotionally as well. The neighbor, however, insists that –

Good fences make good neighbors.

It reflects a belief that boundaries are necessary to maintain relationships. This difference in perspective highlights the speaker’s sense of alienation. He feels disconnected from his neighbor and questions the social conventions that keep people apart.

In conclusion, Robert Frost’s poetry frequently addresses the theme of alienation, portraying characters who are isolated from others, from society, or from their own pasts. Through his exploration of this theme, Frost captures the complexity of human emotions.