What dramatic qualities do you find in the poem “The Death of The Hired Man?”
What dramatic qualities do you find in the poem “The Death of The Hired Man?” is a notable literary work by Wole Soyinka. A complete discussion of this literary work is given, which will help you enhance your literary skills and prepare for the exam. Read the Main texts, Key info, Summary, Themes, Characters, Literary devices, Quotations, Notes, to various questions of What dramatic qualities do you find in the poem “The Death of The Hired Man?”.
Answer
What dramatic qualities do you find in the poem “The Death of The Hired Man?”
Robert Frost’s (1874-1963) poem “The Death of the Hired Man,” included in his 1914 collection “North of Boston,” is rich in dramatic qualities. These qualities come from the way Frost presents the characters, their dialogue, and the underlying tension in the story.
Characterization: Frost vividly portrays the characters of Warren, Mary, and Silas, giving them distinct personalities. Warren is practical and somewhat stern, while Mary is compassionate and understanding. Silas, who is terminally ill, is an old farmhand of the Warren-Mary couple. Though absent from the main dialogue, Silas is depicted as a broken, weary man seeking a final refuge. The contrast between Warren and Mary creates a dramatic tension that drives the poem.
Conflict: The central conflict in the poem—whether or not to allow Silas to stay—creates a strong sense of drama. Mary pities the now terminally ill Silas, while Warren is reluctant to give him another chance. Warren’s reluctance is shown in the line,
I told him so last haying, didn’t I?
If he left then, I said, that ended it.
Meanwhile, Mary argues to show mercy and says Silas has come “home,” and they should take him in. This conflict highlights the tension between (so-called) justice and compassion.
Dialogue: The poem’s dialogue is natural and engaging. It uses the everyday speech of rural New Englanders. Frost uses the characters’ dialogues to show their inner thoughts and feelings. This lets the drama develop quietly but with a strong impact. Their words reveal emotions and build the story’s tension.
Emotional Impact: The poem’s climax, where Warren discovers that Silas has died, delivers a powerful emotional punch. This moment of realization is deeply moving and dramatic. The poem’s ending emphasizes the themes of forgiveness, duty, and the meaning of home.
To wrap up, the dramatic elements in the poem work together to create a powerful story. They show the complexity of human relationships and the difficult moral decisions people face.