Breaking Barriers
The Importance of Tearing Down Walls in “Mending Wall” by Robert Frost
The Physical Wall
In “Mending Wall,” Robert Frost explores the idea of physical walls separating individuals. The poem follows two neighbors, one of whom is averse to the idea of needing a wall between them. Frost writes, “Something there is that doesn’t love a wall.” The narrator of the poem takes an opposite stance to his neighbor, stating, “Good fences make good neighbors.” While the narrator and his neighbor are trying to mend a physical wall, the poem hints at the larger metaphorical wall that is being built between them. The act of mending the physical wall is an attempt to mask the underlying issue of the symbolic wall that society so often builds between people.
The Symbolic Wall
The symbolic wall that the poem highlights is a commentary on societal norms and customs that prevent individuals from connecting with one another. Frost critiques the notion that these established barriers between people are meant to make them stronger. Instead, he argues that these walls only serve to distance people from one another, ultimately creating more problems than they solve. The poem acts as a reminder that we must not let social expectations and traditions inhibit our ability to connect with each other.
The Importance of Breaking Down Walls
Ultimately, “Mending Wall” emphasizes the importance of breaking down borders and barriers. The poem suggests that we need to rethink the walls we build between ourselves and others and question whether they are serving to divide us or unite us. Carl Jung once said, “The greatest and most important problems of life are all fundamentally insoluble. They can never be solved but only outgrown.” The walls we build between one another fall into this category. While the solutions may not be clear or simple, Frost’s poem reminds us that it is important to continue striving towards a world where physical and symbolic walls are a thing of the past.
In conclusion, “Mending Wall” is more than just a poem about two neighbors mending a physical barrier. Frost’s words are also a commentary on society’s tendency to build metaphorical walls between people. Breaking down these barriers is imperative for us to maintain genuine connections with those around us. In today's world, where people are becoming increasingly divided, it is important to heed Frost’s words and actively work towards tearing down the walls that divide us.
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