Themes: Human Boundaries
In “Mending Wall,” Frost explores the social and relational boundaries between people, using the stone wall as a metaphor for such boundaries. The poem considers the question of whether it is necessary to maintain borders between people and offers an ambiguous answer to that question.
The poem initially presents the mending of the wall as an unquestioned tradition that the speaker and his neighbor share. The speaker identifies the causes of the damage—winter weather, passing hunters—and seems to take it for granted that, just as they have done every year, he and his neighbor ought to meet to make the proper repairs. Indeed, it is the speaker who initiates this ritual.
However, the activity of repairing the wall is soon cast in a conflicting light. On the one hand, the men seem to enjoy each other’s company. As they place the fallen stones back in place, they “use a spell to make them balance.” Somewhat paradoxically, this sense of playfulness and cooperation is borne of an effort to reinforce the divide between the two men. On the other hand, the speaker soon begins to question the entire endeavor, referring to the mending as
just another kind of out-door game,
One on a side. It comes to little more:
There where it is we do not need the wall:
He is all pine and I am apple orchard.
Here, the speaker subtly shifts into a mode of skepticism, questioning the need for a wall between two landowners who have only trees on their respective properties. When the neighbor responds to the speaker’s skepticism with the adage “Good fences make good neighbors,” this saying clarifies that the purpose of the wall is more abstract than physical. The nature of this boundary confounds the speaker, who remarks, “Before I built a wall I’d ask to know / What I was walling in or walling out.” The speaker cannot precisely identify this force that must be divided, contained, or walled off, but he soon glimpses the neighbor
Bringing a stone grasped firmly by the top
In each hand, like an old-stone savage armed.
He moves in darkness as it seems to me,
Not of woods only and the shade of trees.
There is a “darkness” or brutality to the neighbor that is related to his insistence on the maintenance of the wall. This “savage” quality is tied to his beloved adage, which he utters again in the final line of the poem. This passage is ultimately ambiguous in the way it presents the wall—and boundaries more generally. On the one hand, the speaker’s vision of his neighbor as “an old-stone savage” may underscore his own sense that the wall is pointless and that the neighbor’s adherence to the wall is regressive. On the other hand, the brutality and threat of violence that the speaker sees in his neighbor can be seen as an argument for the wall, which might serve as a safeguard against the darker potentialities of human nature.
Expert Q&A
The significance of fences and the phrase "Good fences make good neighbors" in Robert Frost's "Mending Wall."
The significance of fences in Robert Frost's "Mending Wall" highlights the boundaries people create between themselves. The phrase "Good fences make good neighbors" suggests that maintaining these boundaries helps preserve harmonious relationships by respecting personal space and privacy. However, the poem also questions whether these barriers are necessary, as the speaker reflects on the natural forces that continually break down the wall.
What does the phrase "Good fences make good neighbors" mean?
The phrase "Good fences make good neighbors" means that establishing clear boundaries helps maintain peaceful and respectful relationships. In Robert Frost's poem "Mending Wall," the speaker questions the need for a wall, but the neighbor insists on its importance. The act of rebuilding the fence together actually strengthens their relationship. Practical examples include keeping livestock contained or preventing children and pets from straying onto neighboring properties.
Interpretation of the poet's assertion that "something does not love a wall" in "Mending Wall."
The poet's assertion that "something does not love a wall" in "Mending Wall" suggests a natural tendency against barriers and separation. It reflects the idea that nature and possibly human instinct resist artificial divisions, emphasizing the futility of maintaining boundaries that go against inherent forces seeking to break them down.
In "Mending Wall," does the wall between the farms serve a practical purpose?
In "Mending Wall," the wall between the farms does not serve a practical purpose in the traditional sense, as neither farmer has livestock to contain. However, it provides a reason for the neighbors to interact annually when they repair it, fulfilling the neighbor's belief that "good fences make good neighbors." Thus, the wall serves a relational and emotional purpose rather than a practical one.
Does the wall in "Mending Wall" separate or unite the neighbors?
In "Mending Wall," the wall initially brings the two speaker together due to their annual habit of fixing it. However, the wall ultimately separates them as their opposing opinions on the purpose of the wall become more clear.
Is Frost suggesting that useful walls are desirable in "Mending Wall"?
In "Mending Wall," Frost explores the necessity and irony of boundaries. While the poem's speaker questions the need for walls, suggesting they maintain separation and individuality, the neighbor uncritically adheres to the adage "Good fences make good neighbors." Frost implies that while boundaries can be useful for privacy and identity, they should not be erected thoughtlessly. Instead, they should be considered carefully to understand what they are keeping in or out.
What evidence in "Mending Wall" suggests that nature dislikes the wall?
In "Mending Wall," Robert Frost suggests nature dislikes the wall as it naturally causes damage to it. Frost describes how the freezing and thawing cycles cause the ground to buckle, displacing stones and creating gaps. This natural process, along with the wall’s lack of practical purpose—separating orchards rather than grazing areas—implies that walls are against nature. The poem's repetition of "something there is that doesn’t love a wall" underscores this theme.
How does Frost use ambiguity in "Mending Wall" to convey his message about walls and neighbors?
In "Mending Wall," Robert Frost uses ambiguity to question the necessity and purpose of walls between neighbors. Initially suggesting walls are beneficial, the poem quickly reveals the speaker's skepticism. The line "Something there is that doesn’t love a wall" introduces doubt, while the speaker's inquiry about the purpose of the wall contrasts with the neighbor’s unexamined belief that "Good fences make good neighbors." This ambiguity highlights the tension between tradition and thoughtful examination of barriers.
How does "Mending Wall" portray human nature's tendency to build walls between individuals and societies?
"Mending Wall" by Robert Frost explores human nature's inclination to build barriers between individuals and societies. The poem depicts two neighbors who annually repair a wall between their properties, despite its lack of practical necessity. This ritual reflects a deeper human tendency to adhere to traditions and routines, even when they lack logical justification. The neighbor's insistence that "good fences make good neighbors" underscores the unexamined acceptance of inherited wisdom, illustrating how societal norms perpetuate divisions.
Significance of Gaps in "Mending Wall" by Robert Frost
In Robert Frost's "Mending Wall," the gaps in the stone wall symbolize both physical and metaphorical divides. Physically, these gaps result from natural forces like frost heaves or animal activity, necessitating annual repairs. Metaphorically, the gaps represent potential for communication and connection between the neighbors, despite the wall meant to separate them. The phrase "and makes gaps even two can pass abreast" underscores the irony of a barrier that inadvertently fosters unity, highlighting nature's resistance to artificial divisions.
Which lines from "Mending Wall" suggest the speaker doubts the need for annual wall repair?
Metaphorical Walls in "Mending Wall" and Their Impact on Communication
In Robert Frost's "Mending Wall," metaphorical walls symbolize barriers that hinder communication and understanding between people. The poem highlights how differences in philosophy, generational perspectives, and personality can create such walls. The speaker's open-mindedness contrasts with his neighbor's adherence to tradition, reflecting generational and personality divides. Tearing down these walls requires active listening and mutual understanding, fostering respect even amidst disagreement. Despite their differences, the annual wall-mending ritual ironically unites them, emphasizing shared human experiences.
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