The Road Not Taken, Essay Example

Decisions are particular matters in life that no one can avoid. Even the simplest forms of conditions require one to choose, to decide between two or more elements and be willing to let go of the other that has to be released because choices have already been made. Relatively, the same thought is being presented in the story behind Frost’s story on the poem entitled The Road Not Taken. As the author defines his dilemma, he points out that his choices where relatively equal in value especially in relation to the distinction of whether or not one matter is more important than the other. Noting this, it could be noted how the author defined the situation saying:

Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that, the passing there
Had worn them really about the same

Most likely, as it could be understood through the said lines, the condition of the two roads described in the poem were quite the same especially in relation to its being grassy and worn out. This means that they were both traveled by travelers. The term “the road not taken” did not mean the decision most uncommon to be taken by people. Instead, it simply means a choice should be made in ever intersection in life. The choices may be all good. However, when it comes to picking the right choice, the decision solely depends upon the person. He must be able to weight the good versus the bad, or at least the more beneficial against that of the lesser one. Most often than not, it is during these instances that making decisions even become confusing.

Another proof to such equality between the choices that the author presented are the lines mentioning the following statement:

And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.

If closely understood, the term ‘in leaves no step had trodden black’ defines the fact that several individuals traveled both areas, however, the implications of the traveled path did not fully indicate the number or the bulk of the number of individuals who chose both roads to pass into. In life, making choices when in confusing situations require one to specifically work around their condition, to measure what would best work for them in the long run. For the author though, he pointed out that he chose the other road because he plans to take the other one in the future, although this fact may not be fully supported by his condition. He knew that he might not be able to have another chance to trod the other road, nevertheless, he knew he needed to make a choice.

Living in a life with full of opportunities, a person needs to pick one and decide to live with it. May it be about marrying, a course to study, a job to take or a religion to believe in, a person needs to seek the most supportive source of image in the future that could bring him where he actually wants to be recognized with. The present is considered to be the stepping stones towards making a better future. Whatever decision anyone hopes to make today, will greatly affect whatever future awaits him. Considering this fact could actually bring about a sense of precaution that one needs to take to be able to make the proper decision that fits his situation not only at present, but also that of the future that he is to face.

Giving up other choices may be hard especially if they are good enough. Picture a person who is asked by his parents to take on a course in medicine but would actually want to master skills related to arts. The choices involve getting his parent’s approval and support versus the possibility of actually doing something he loves with full control of everything and being better inspired with the job he may actually love to keep. In a way, the choices may be seemingly unequal as it involves whether or not to follow one’s desire and be happy or to specifically pick a decision that will make his parents happy and likely give him a chance to enter a relatively lucrative profession. What then should the person choose? Should he be concerned more about his own satisfying future with the possibility of being able to control his own life, or would he be more desirable of being able to live his life with the support and approval of his parents? Individuals facing the need to choose the right college education to master often face this particular decision. For the author of the poem, he specifically tried to make such dilemma easier to handle. He wanted to make things less complicated and hoped that the one he gives up now might still be available in the future when he returns to the same point of intersection. To this he adds though:

Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.

Seemingly, it could be understood that the author knows that the choice he makes today would be the choice he would need to keep. The choice he drops today, might be the one he would need to forget about; to let go. Notably, the same thing is true with the scenario that is presented in the previous paragraph. Indicatively, this matter of situation involves to manifest a sense of control on the part of the one making the decision. Weighing what the future may hold for the individual facing the decision, the person should be able to have a capacity of forecasting what might happen next if in case he decides to take one path against the other.

In the years to come, relating the same situation to others might echo the disappointment that one has over the choice he has not taken. This does not mean that he detest the decision he has made, it simply means that he hopes to know what could have happened if he made another choice. As a result, when he relates to others about the decision he has made, he might fabricate matters, just so to make sure that the condition of acceptance or appeal that others may have on his decisions would be more than just a good feedback. This approach he takes does not only affect his appeal to others but also that of his personal acceptance of what he has done. The poem further notes this dilemma as the author notes:

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 less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference

From the last stanza of the poem, it could be realized how the author wanted to point out that in life, disappointments are unavoidable. Decisions that are supposed to be made are bound to have some amount of disappointment that every individual has to face. Relatively though, the weight of such disappointment could only be measured based on the level of acceptance that the person develops in relation to the condition of the situation that he is currently involved in.

References:

The Road Not Taken by Robert Frost. http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/the-road-not-taken/. (Retrieved on September 20, 2013).