Essay Example on The Road Not Taken: Making Decisions & Being Different

Robert Frost published his poem "The Road Not Taken" in 1916 where he depicts how much we find ourselves at crossroads. The main theme in the poem is the diverse decisions that people come across in their everyday living. Frost shows how one should make a decision of following one path rather than two. He further helps one to realize the importance of carrying out a critical analysis before making a decision. The poem further implies on how one should be content with being different.

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The first stanza begins with the writer telling us of the two roads that existed and goes further into being apologetic since he would not take both routes. This only clarifies how one should make a concrete decision without any room for doubt. The poem goes deeper into advocating for one to stand their own ground by being one traveler. This shows the need for one to be their own decision maker for it is well said that let people not make decisions for you.

According to Frost he undertook a quick analysis of one of the roads to the farthest extent he would. This only cautions one to always carry out an analysis before coming into a decision of what choice to take and the one to leave. Considering the possible outcomes after being in a position that has multiple choices is one important virtue. Whether in business related world or the normal day to day choices that come our way, we have to check the probable outcome. When presented with crossroads Frost warns us to carry out a quick analysis of the available crossroads lest we end up making the less suitable choice. Literally also one should consider the road to take depending on analysis carried which could be time factor, security, terrain or any other factor. This stanza highly cautions one to be well informed before coming into a concrete decision.

The second stanza the writer makes a decision of taking the other path. This is after ruling out the other path since it was not favorable to him. The other path did not fulfill the personas main objective. This should as well be applied to decision we make or rather the choices and paths that we take in life. Our lives provide us with multiple paths. Beginning from the company that we keep as friends to how we behave in the society. How one behaves in the society is as a path that one chooses to follow. The persona makes an informed decision after realizing that the path had goodies to offer to him. This should be the case to paths we choose to follow in life. We ought to choose paths that are of benefit to us. Paths that fulfill our objectives and paths that fulfill the desired objectives.

Paths may appear all the same but then there is always that path that offers the best results. That path that happens to be more beneficial as compared to other path. The writer tries to teach people on need to thoroughly scrutinize a decision before coming into a conclusive decision. One has to weigh their options and decide on the optimal path to follow.

The writer also tries to teach us that not all that glitters is gold for despite the other path being grassy. This also implies that everything is not always as good or as sweet as it appears. This is because despite the path being grassy it has some wear out. Which demands for one to be cautious about the glitter and glamour since all that would act as an obstacle and blocks one from viewing the real negative aspects a path may hold.

Hence though the glamour the disadvantages could be intense if one chooses a path out of the glamour and choosing to follow the path without bearing full information of the path especially the negative aspects of the path. The writer shows how quick people respond to glamour despite overlooking on the negative effects since it after all seems fair to take the glamorous path.

The third stanza the speaker tells us of how choices would look similar. How one choice would be very much similar to another while placed at a common ground. The both paths could seem to have equal benefits which only would tempt one into making a haste decision. Things may at times seem similar and less dangerous due to the first impression created. This stanza tries to caution one not to be deceived by first impressions. It teaches one to learn on how to value time since little time invested in making a decision will only lead to poor decision making.

Paths chosen in haste end up being less fruitful as compared to those that time has well been invested on studying the probable side effects of selecting the path. Without learning the ugly side of deciding to follow a certain path then one is bound to think that all paths are the same. This eventually prompts into making a less informed decision which later drives one into regrets of making the wrong choice.

People go down the path of marriage every now and then. A couple that is in much love would make one to be tempted into getting into marriage. They would make the path of marriage and not being in marriage seem all the same. An individual who hurriedly gets into marriage due to just observing a couple that is in love would later end up regretting the decision. This is because they would be making the decision out of glamour caused by the couple that is in love which would make it look so easy being in a marriage.

Thus the stanza cautions that the similarity of paths does not necessarily mean that both paths are of utmost benefit. Though both may seem too similar or of equal appearance there is always more to the first impression. Making a decision however is a state that leaves one in questioning whether the path chosen is the best. It puts one in doubts of whether the decision or path followed is the best.

The last stanza the speaker tells of how he came into choosing a path. Which only means that eventually one has to make a decision on the path to follow. With all facts being put right the speaker came into making a decision of following the less travelled road. This is a lesson taught on the need to be bold in choices made. The speaker decided to explore the road less taken so as to enjoy the benefits that had not been exhausted by other users of the path. The stanza also teaches us on the need to be risk takers for it is only when we risk that we eventually gain. This attitude would be very productive in the business world.

Paths that people decide to follow are what creates the difference between them. People who tend to be risk takers have a high chance of ending up being successful in their line of expertise. Following a path has its own consequences and one have to live with them for the rest of their lives. The consequences being part of the individual then they will live to tell of the results generated from taking a certain path.

The writer however, encourages the reader to be in a position of being confident in the path they take since that path taken could be the best beneficial path to them. Frost encourages the reader not to be doubtful of paths followed despite the path having very few followers hence, "and that has made all the difference" is the line that completes his poem. Which implies that the speaker is trying to show the readers that being different is all okay.

The poem has quite a simple form of structure and a short one but the poem carries a deep message of encouragement. The poem has wise words hidden in a symbolic manner. The roads symbolize the different choices that we come across life. The poem creates a photographic representation of two roads in the readers mind. The poem advocates for one to lead their own paths in life.

Works cited

Frost, Robert. The Poetry of Robert Frost. Random House, 2001.

Frost, Robert. The road not taken and other poems. Courier Corporation, 2012.

Frost, Robert. The road not taken. Familius, 2019.