Robert Frost: The Road Not Taken

Robert Frost: The Road Not Taken (1915)

Although written in 1915, Robert Frost's "The Road Not Taken" is a poem that addresses themes and ideas that are still pertinent in modern times. The poem is a mere 4 stanza quatrain, written simplistically in a language that is easily understandable by the masses. A possible reason for this use of minimalist language could be its accessibility to all levels of education. It is a poem about life and life's daily choices that is meant to be applied to people of all walks of life. The theme of decision making is initiated in the first line: "Two roads diverged in a yellow wood..." This opening implants certain peremptory sentiments in the mind of the reader. There is one wood but it is separated into two distinct roads. When read, this first line already starts the audience thinking. It is a familiar situation in which everyone can relate to. It involves choices. Decisions are a vital part of life. The majority of decisions are quite simple and interchangeable. But the major decisions made in life usually come along with two other sentiments: doubt and acceptance. With that being said, the three major themes to be discussed are decisions, doubt, and acceptance.

Decision making is something that most people take for granted. It is almost second nature in most circumstances. Many decisions are made through pure impulse, almost as in a reflex motion. These decisions are reactionary, like taking one's hand away from a fire when the heat is felt. Other decisions are not quite reactions but are entirely interchangeable without yielding much difference in outcomes. This would be like deciding to have grape jelly with breakfast instead of strawberry. The outcome is much the same. However, there are certain decisions that have the potential to change the course of one's life. These decisions require much more thought, and the decision making process usually involves quite a great deal of deliberation. It is one such decision that is insinuated in "The Road Not Taken." The dilemma is displayed very explicitly in the first stanza. The audience is told that there is one man faced with two roads, and only one can be taken. The importance of this decision is shown through the length of time spent on it. "...Long I stood,/ and looked down one as far as I could..." Frost is not in a hurry to make a choice. It seems to be quite important, and it is inferred that an error in judgment could be in some way costly. The second stanza shows more of the same deliberation. He weighs both roads and finds one to be a bit more inviting, "...Because it was grassy and wanted for wear..." In the third stanza, he makes the decision to take the second road, keeping the first for "another day." In this way the audience gets a look into Frost's decision making process.

A common part of the decision making process is doubt. Doubt is something that can be extremely detrimental, but it is very natural and almost inevitable. At various points in the poem, Frost expresses doubt. The second half of the first stanza, Frost's hesitation is introduced. He was standing for some time, trying to peek to the end of both paths. The doubt he faces comes from the unknown. He could only see so far down both paths. "And looked down one as far as I could/ To where it bent in the undergrowth." The path bent and was covered at a point in which the end was past his line of vision. This obstruction to his vision is very symbolic. Many times in life, things are uncertain. The outcome is very rarely going to be foreseeable. Most things end in a metaphorical gamble, like the flip of a coin. Even when solid logic is used, nothing can really be seen as certain. This uncertainty laces life with doubt. The second stanza continues this sentiment of uncertainty, but a decision is made. Although the decision is made, there is still some hedging. The word "perhaps" stirs