Symbolism of Journey

Symbolism of Journey

Introduction

Robert Frost's “The Path Not Taken”, is a poem which refers to an ordinary crossroad bearing two paths. These are the roads that people walk on or drive by daily. Though they maybe ordinary, but the decision to take one of the paths acquires immense importance in the life of the character. It denotes that, for every road taken by an individual there is a road that is not taken. Whether the correct route is taken or not, these routes or roads make a considerable impact on the lives of an individual. The individual through his choice is always left to wonder on the road or path he did not take.

In Jean Rhys's short story, “I Used to Live Here Once” the writer has explained his concept of the journey of death in which the character, a girl unaware of her new journey explores her former surroundings. Using colorful details of the environment and surroundings in the story, Rhys brings about a plot which is not about where the character used to live once, but how the character gradually realizes for the first time about her new journey; that she is dead.

Thesis Statement

The writers in the literary works, Robert Frost's “The Path Not Taken”, and Jean Rhys's “I Used to Live Here Once” focus on the same theme by symbolizing the importance of the journey in the life of its characters. The writers form their own plot of the journeys that the characters would pursue and the symbolic importance of the journey on their lives; while one of the characters has the choice to decide on the journey it wants to take by choosing one of the two roads, the other has the journey of death forced on her.

Discussion

The underlying theme in both the literary works is the same; journey. However, a significant difference is present in the way the writers depict the nature of the journey. In the poem “Path not Taken”, Frost explains the situation that an individual could possibly be faced with in life when he or she has to make an important choice that may affect his concepts, thinking and the way of living for the entire life. The poem does not focus merely on one theme; rather there are many underlying themes that it presents. One of its overriding theme is about individualism or making own choice according to one's own taste rather than following the crowd. This theme stands for developing choices according to one's taste and desires and not following people. It is to be a leader rather than a follower. This could be the reason why the character prefers to dwell on the path that is the least taken by the travelers.

“I took the one less traveled by,”

Through this decision of his, character has expressed himself as an individual.

This theme is completely different to the way the theme of the journey is presented by Rhys in “I used to live here once”. The latter character, as portrayed by the ...