The Decisions We Make

The Decisions We Make

Kenneth Milton

Eng. 125 Introduction To Literature

Lindsay Brand

April 7, 2013

The Decisions We Make

For my assignment, I choose to analyze Robert Frost's poem, The Road Not Taken. I will use a archetypal approach to analyze this poem. This poem has emotional influence because it presents an existential theme. All through the poem Frost calls the attention to the importance of the choices made throughout our lives and the consequences of them. This seems like an inspirational poem that thrives to encourage us to trust in our decisions, to me this poem is about the inability of people to avoid choices, and the vulnerability of living our lives because of choices we cannot change.

This poem captured my attention because of its use of an Archetypal Dilemma, one that is easily recognized because each of us encounters it many times, both literally and figuratively. Frost uses a metaphor describing the paths in the woods and forks in the road, to show everyone how they have the freedom to choose the paths in their lives. We make many decisions in our lives every day. However, we are not always sure that we made the right decision.

"The drama of the poem is of the persona making a choice between the two roads. As evolved creatures, we should be able to make choices, but the poem suggests that our choices are irrational and aesthetic. The sense of meaning and morality derived from choice is not reconciled but, rather obliterated and canceled by a normal monism. Frost is trying to reconcile impulse with a con-science that needs goals and harbors deep regrets,(Faggin, Robert).

The archetypal approach framework is not limited to one individual's feelings and emotions; it's a framework made up of views and understandings held or felt universally. Every archetypal pattern illustrates how particular human goal is commonly achieved or how a universal human dilemma is resolved. These ancient patterns are observable in mythology ( Clugston, Wayne R.).

"From finding mates to apartment, many decisions people face are sequential. Sequential decisions are often difficult because one is forced to evaluate options on the spot and does not have the luxury to change his mind: A partner will likely move on if you court others, or a landlord will pick the next interested tenant if you hesitate to take an apartment. The trick lies in neither stopping the search to early nor too late so as not to miss out on the best partner or apartment (Von Helverien, Bettina). Once I started dating my wife, I knew that I did .not want to date anyone else. I know I have made the right choice marrying my wife; we have been married