The Road Not Yet Taken Week 6

Robert Frost’s “The Road Not Yet Taken”, In a few brief words it is the choice between two roads and which one to take, and the character’s decision to choose the road less traveled and that it ended up making all of the difference.

1.       The title reminds me of the ability to walk alone as an individual instead of following everyone else and their trail. Because you need to make your own. If there was any other title I suppose you could call it the road with the grass more squished down, but then who would want to read that? Kidding. Sometimes it’s hard to imagine any other title for a poem, because it feels like there couldn’t be one any better.

2.       There weren’t any words that I didn’t understand.

3.       I hear some rhyming like line 1 and 4wood and could. It seems that in one line there will be the beginning rhyming word and then two shorter phrases would pass before the next rhyming word would follow.

4.       If you looked at the poem literally; there is a person (we don’t know if it is male or female, although I think it is meant to be sexless so we can all relate to the meaning of the poem.) and they are at a crossroad. They have the ability to choose two paths. One that is obviously more worn from being used more often, while the other is less used. So the path less traveled was taken and apparently that was worth it for the main character.

5.       Things that I am seeing are 1. The roads. 2. The first road looking like the grass had been beaten down. 3. The second road not worn and grass is fresh. 4. The road less traveled almost begging to be walked through. 5. Also the character of this poem looking back and feeling confident with his decision.

6.       1. The speaker is sexless. 2. There is a decision to be made. 3. Obviously at a crossroad in his/her life. 4. Weighing options and decisions. 5. Having the feelings of following comfort. 6. Or following the road that will make the speaker grow as a person. 7. The speaker finally makes a decision. 8. starts moving forward in the chosen direction. 9. Feeling confident. 10. And having no regrets for the decision made.

7.       The attitude of the speaker is about making decisions concerning the entirety of one’s life. And deciding to live it like everyone else or to march to the beat of your own drum.

8.       The poem has some structure but overall it’s a lesser amount it gives the mind some freedom to roam while still giving it boundaries.

9.       Obviously the tension in the poem has to do with the speaker trying to determine which way to go after traveling thus far. The decisions don’t seem too terribly difficult for the speaker, although it did take some thought.

10.   “And sorry I could not travel both…” I found this interesting. Not having the ability to see what both paths could produce at the end and having to make one decision and hoping it is the right decision. “Because it was grassy and wanted wear…” I like how the road almost has its own voice begging to be trodden on. “ I shall be telling this with a sigh somewhere  ages and ages hence two roads diverged in a wood and I…I took the one last traveled by, and it has made all of the difference.” I like the feeling that a decisions was well made, and even in old age there is no regret, which should be how we all live our lives.

I like the feeling of life giving you choices and you can make a decision and once it has been made you can’t go back. Life is set in motion the moment a decision is made. And I love how the speaker says “And sorry I could not travel both…” because I think we all want both, wonder what could have happened if we had made better decisions in our lives, even simply just making decisions in our lives. And the path more worn is like our comfort zone and our fault at following the footsteps before us in fear that going the other way may result in our downfall. And the path less worn is giving the ability to march to your own drum and become independent, and decide a life based on what is important personally as opposed to what is expected.  

What's your path?

Essay

Right now I am currently in a dilemma. I can’t decide whether or not to discuss the irony aspect or the trickster aspect over the readings we have been studying. I really want to discuss the irony in the passing of Grandison and how after the colonel boasts of Grandison’s faithfulness, and Grandison’s constant expression towards his faithfulness that he still escapes. Not only does he escape, but he also helps his family escape. But at the same time I want to talk about Grandisons as a trickster as well as Dick and Charity .      

                Then I also wanted to talk about the role that women play, I thought I could talk about Charity and then the infidelity of the wife from the short story the storm. I just want to express how these two women really have this control over there men. Charity making Dick “free a slave”, and Dick only doing it in hopes that he can have Charity. And then the infidelity and the stress that relationships can cause. I just like the idea that men can so easily be influenced by women, and how women can have so many secrets and abilities to achieve what they want in these stories.

Ah! Decisions, decisions!

Washington

 “ while doing this , you can be sure in the future, as in the past, that you and your families will be surrounded by the most patient, faithful, law abiding, and un resentful people that the world has seen. As we have proved our loyalty to you in the past, in nursing your children, watching by the sick-bed of your mothers and fathers, and often following them with tear-dimmed eyes to their graves, so in the future, in our humble way, we shall stand by you with a defense of yours, interlacing out industrial, commercial, civil, and religious life with yours in a way that shall me the interests of both races one. In all things that are purely social we can be as separate as the fingers, yet one as the hand in all things essential to mutual progress. (443)

Washington was making an attempt to express that the slaves were just as much as equal as those who are white. That they are mothers and father, employees, people who will buy up plots of land and contribute to the overall culture of mankind. That if there was a willingness to create a whole community instead of many individual ones, that there would be several more things accomplished and with a higher success rate.

Washington also displays pure honesty, which I found to be very refreshing. He wasn’t simply pleading the case of his people as innocent and without fault. He says himself “Nearly sixteen millions of hands will aid you in pulling the load upward, or they will pull against you the load downward. We shall constitute one-third and more of the ignorance and crime of the South, or one-third its intelligence and progress; we shall contribute one-third to the business and industrial prosperity of the South, or we shall prove a veritable body of death, stagnating, depressing, and retarding every effort to advance the body political.” (444)

Washington admits that the change won’t come easily, that it will be a struggle each and every day and can’t be forced upon people, but slowly introduced. That the privileges of the law can be theirs, and are deserved, Although, exercising these privileges needs to be learned. 

Washington wraps up his speech and his last few words were “…will bring into our beloved South a new heaven and a new earth.”(445). which was referring earlier to what could be possible if everyone was able to pull themselves together in a joint unit. I find him realizing the possibilities and being very hopeful for the best outcome possible.

Du Bois

“How does it feel to be a problem?” (454) Du Bois admits to it being a strange experience. Du Bois goes argument is that the Negro is what it is and it shouldn’t be anything else than what it is. He say’s himself “The history of the American Negro is the history of this strife- this longing attain self-conscious manhood, to merge his double self into a better and truer self. Into his merging he wishes neither of the older slaves to be lost. He would not Africanize America, for America has too much to teach the world and Africa. He would not bleach his Negro soul in a flood of white Americanism, for he knows that Negro blood has a message for the world. He simply wishes to make it possible for a man to be both a Negro and an American, without being cursed and spit upon by his fellows, without having the doors of opportunity closed roughly in his face. (455)

It seems as if Du Bois is basically expressing that Negros have been forced to be so many other things than it actually is. He drives home the actual struggle that it has taken his people to come to the point at which they now reside. And the further actions they will have to take to continue on a forward motion and sometimes things ahead of them seemed dark and without any head way, but for others a process which would eventually provide a positive.

Du Bois even speaks of Washington and his recent proclamation, he says “ Mr. Washington’s counsels of submission overlooked certain elements of true manhood, and that his educational programme  was unnecessarily narrow (462)  

Which at this point it makes me really think about Washington’s speech? Was it really a plea for submission? Or was it a compromise? Did he basically roll over and play dead in hopes of gaining even an ounce of freedom?

Du Bois also mentions that due to Washington’s past he tip toes about with his ideas to presents them in ways that would be more pleasing to his audience. Du Bois is just expressing that every man should be made to be equals.

I feel that Washington makes very valid points and I feel Du Bois is right about him. He does appear to be presenting his case in ways that are more appealing to the ear of the audience. While on the other hand Du Bois is straight up with his facts and feelings. Washington appears in my opinion to be more conservative based on the fact that he is trying to please while create a change, and Du Boise is more militant in his actions.

Response

http://nathanaelgracelovesliterature.blogspot.com/ I like the quote you used about Grandison be “aboloishinist proof”, It makes me think about what exactly the Colonel picked up from Grandison’s personality that made him think this way. I also find it interesting how the Colonel could be so ignorant and big headed to think that a human being would be thrilled with the idea of being a slave. Yes the conditions on that plantation were far better than other plantations with other slave holders.  While Dick is about to leave on his trip the Colonel says something to him that I feel accurately describes his personality. “…I hope you will keep your eyes and ears open to find out what the rascally abolitionists are saying and doing. They’re  becoming altogether too active for our comfort, and entirely to many ungrateful niggers are running away…”(pg 233) The ungrateful part is where in my opinion the Colonel went wrong. Thinking he could ever own a person as if an object introduced him to embarrassment and reality. So when Grandison escapes and then brings along the whole family it’s like a huge screw you. And the fact that the Colonel chases after Grandision and his family just further proves the Colonel’s ignorance as well as his hurt pride.

The Passing of Grandison  

Words are only words. Darn that Irony.

In the beginning Dick is convinced he has to prove himself to be worthy before he can be married to Charity. Finally it is decided in some form that Dick has to “run a negro off to Canada.” So Dick originally picks Tom to run off, but his father the Colonel decides that Dick should take Grandison instead. The colonel’s main fear is that he cannot send a slave that might escape. The colonel says to Dick “I’d just like to catch any one trying to run off one of my darkeys. He’d  get short shrift ; I don’t think any Court would have the chance to try him.” (pg 233)

            Which I find rather interesting that he would say that when his own son is trying to do exactly what his father is trying to prevent. It’s what Dick says to his father afterwards that really confirms the irony. They are a pestiferous lot and dangerous to our institutions. Well Dick appears to be just as dangerous.

            Perfect example

            So I have to say Grandison’s technique for escape was amazing. Throughout the entire story you get this very strong feel that Grandison is devoted to his master and that he never has any intention of leaving. Even though Dick has been diligently trying to get rid of him.

Especially when Dick says this to Grandison “Gradison, I am going away for a day or two, but I shall leave you here. I shall lock up a hundred dollars in this drawer and give you the key. If you need any of it, use it and enjoy yourself, -spend it all if you like,- for this is probably the last chance you’ll have for some time to be in a free state, and you’d better enjoy your liberty while you may.”(pg 237) Then after Dick returns he finds Grandsion still waiting to serve him and along with that has not touched the money.

            What a Jerk.

            In the reading, Dick makes it to Canada with Grandison and goes into an inn for lunch. Dick leaves Grandison to sit in free territory where he has the opportunity to run free at any moment. But still Grandison remains waiting patiently for his Master. Although, when Dick returns Grandison is asleep on the ground and Dick uses this as his opportunity to leave Grandison and return home. Where he delivers lies about the disappearance of the faithful Grandison.

            Oh the Irony!

            In the reading we learn that Grandison comes crawling back home after being tortured and facing severe turmoil. Dick’s father the Colonel proudly says “Grandison had no intention of running away; he knew when he was well off, and where his friends were. All the persuasions of abolition liars and runaway niggers did not move him.” (pg240) Then three weeks go by and Grandison is treated very well all the while sharing his story with the town about his faithfulness to his master. Then one morning Grandison and all of his loved ones flee for Canada, to freedom. It blows my mind at Grandisons sneaky act to gain freedom. That is honest irony, the act of cleverly anticipating the moment of escape, even when it was so readily available earlier.

So did anyone else find these examples of Verbal and Situational Irony?

           

            

In Response to http://nathanaelgracelovesliterature.blogspot.com/2012/02/stormy.html

     I really like what you said in the first paragraph of your blog, "The ending is surprising because it not only rejects the need for consequences for adultery, but it goes so far as to provide a happy ending for everyone involved." I do have to agree with you on that point. I find it interesting that after this affair Calixta  seems almost temporarily released from her former self. Almost as if cleansed if that makes any sense. Even though what she did seems to have made her very unclean. 
    I want to know why she doesn't confess, or does she even feel like she has to? I also feel terribly sorry for Bobinot  who has received the bitter end of his wife. Then comes home after traveling in the storm preparing himself for his Calixta and her wrath, if you so chose to classify it as wrath. And comes home to a happy wife. Imagine Bobinot's response if he had learned that his wife's infidelity is the reason for her new found happiness. How distraught would he be knowing that the happiness his wife is experiencing was all thanks to Alcee? It's terrible watching Bobinot go on in innocence feeling happy and at peace with his wife when in all actuality those feelings are not deserved? Perhaps that is not the right wording? Which makes me wonder what is love, actually?