Human Relationships in Robert Frost's Selected Poems

Abstract

Frost's oeuvre is fraught with the exploration of the barriers between individuals. His poetry examines the complexities of human relationships and the obstacles that hinder interaction between people. Some characters cannot overstep these barriers; others are aware of their existence and can overcome them. Amongst the significant obstacles is the materialistic spirit that invaded the world and created concrete barriers between people. They rendered man isolated and consumed by the sense of loneliness and poverty. In "Provide, Provide" (1936) Frost portrays the barriers erected by materialism. Social conventions and the expectations of the society is another obstacle. Some people cannot think for themselves and examine the validity of the inherited conventions that keep them far from others. However, the amendment of these barriers sometimes brings people together for a temporary interaction as shown in "Mending Wall" (1915). Miscommunication and helplessness to express emotions or understand others build emotional and mental barriers that end in total separation of two people which vividly expressed by the married couples in "Home Burial" (1915). The other intimate relationship between the newly married couples in "West Running Brook" (1928) contradicts the former couple. They show love and express acceptance and understanding of each other's views, nature, and mentality. Understanding, love, and trust enable people to have mature interactions that enable them to rise above emotional and mental barriers.