Symbolism of the Journey

Symbolism of the Journey

Thesis Statement for Both the Literatures

The Robert Frost's poem the road not taken and Jean Rhys's story I used to live here once both represent the journey of a person. The story line of both the narrations is entirely different. Both the literatures share some common points such that both a character, symbolism and some historical contexts with different scenarios.

Introduction of the Story Road Not Taken and I Used To Live Here Once

A man borns with the innate discontent in his life. He always thinks that others life are far better than his own life. He comes up in life with this sense of discontentment and at last dies with this. A man faces crossroads throughout his journey. He keeps making choices and every choice takes him towards the new journey. He keeps regretting throughout his life that he should have taken the other choice.

The poem road not taken is the creation of Robert Frost which reflects the nostalgic choices of man which he makes in his life. He is famous for his natural themes. This poem "The Road Not Taken” conveys the scenario where a person faces a fork in the road where he has to make a choice between two roads. Both the roads look same to the poet but leads toward the different directions. A person cannot travel both the roads at the same time. He has to pick one and leave the other.

The other story I used to live here once is written by Jean Rhys. The story reflects the description of the journey of a woman. She visits the place where she used to live in her childhood. She remembers and notices the changes that have been made in that place. She compares everything with the time she used to be here.

Discussion

Summary of the Story I Used To Live Here Once

It is a story of a dead woman Jean Rhys, who was born in the British colony of Dominica in West Indies in 1890. The story starts with her visit to the childhood home. She tells her journey to her way to home from the nearby river to the wide road which takes her to the childhood home where she spent her early 16 years of life. She noticed some changes when she reaches home such that it is now painted white, and the pine tree disappeared, and clove was there. She saw two kids playing outside the house. She tried to communicate with them. But they ignored her. This is primarily because the woman did not know that she was dead. She again tried to tell them that she used to live here once, but both of them did not reply. Then she went near to touch them, suddenly the boy turns around and look all the way through her eyes and speaks to her sister to go inside as it was getting cold and then they went to the house.

So the main idea behind the story is ...