The Road Less Traveled
Yes, you can still call me Spy. I’m feeling quite lonely about it, actually. I finally figured out how to change my blogger profile to point to the new domain, and I changed my name to match. But Spy has become almost an endearment to me, because my cherished blogging buddies call me it. Now that you all are calling me Natasha, I feel a bit like you all suddenly stopped calling me “sweetie” or some such nickname.
I’ll get used to it, LOL. I’m weird. It’s silly for me to still go by Spy Scribbler since I don’t actually write spy stories.
The Road Not Taken
Was it sarcastic? My genius-poet piano student, now graduated, pointed me to a reading of the poem by Robert Frost himself. He thinks that Frost says that famous line—“And that has made all the difference.”—with sarcasm.
I don’t hear the sarcasm, but with further reading of the poem (and actually, I believe it is the first time I’ve read the whole thing, at least in my memory), I soon realized that it doesn’t really say what some people think it says. Most people think of it as “The Road Less Travelled By,” but it’s actually “The Road Not Taken.” (The link will take you to the full poem.)
The speaker claims both paths are “just as fair.” And at first, he claims one is not as worn, but upon reflection, he says, “Though as for that the passing there/Had worn them really about the same.” He imagines telling this, one day in the future, “with a sigh.”
Those famous lines read a bit differently after taking all that into account:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.
It leaves me pondering: was it sarcasm? Does he think the roads were the same, despite it all? Is destiny inevitable? Are we duping ourselves when we choose the path less traveled by? Or are we duping ourselves later when we claim to have taken that non-conforming path, when really it was a path just like any other?
Of course, the more popular interpretation is quite inspiring. Sometimes I prefer the “wrong” interpretation just because it fits with my philosophies more than the poet’s philosophies.
But his poem speaks to me now, because while I feel I’m choosing the path less traveled by, is it really less traveled? Well, not really at all. I wouldn’t even have gotten the idea without those who went before me.
What do you believe?
This is a fascinating lecture by Dr. Peter Stanlis, Distinguished Professor of Humanities, Emeritus, Rockford College, which tells the stories behind both the poem and the appearance of Robert Frost at Jack Kennedy’s Inauguration. A lecture really not to be missed on dualism, poetry, philosophy, religion, and politics.
The more I write, the more I’m obsessed with stories saying something. And she’s said it before, but I often wonder if it is possible to write without a philosophy. Perhaps writing departments would be better served to teach philosophy rather than craft.
In the end, though, the interpretation is up to the reader. And even if they take a different meaning or disagree with you, at least they’re thinking. At some point, it’s important to rise above our emotions and figure out how and why we make our decisions. Because we all live by some philosophy, whether we’re aware of it or not.
So what do you think? Do you prefer The Road Less Traveled By interpretation or The Road Not Taken? And if those roads were actually different, which would you choose? And if they are the same, would you later justify your decision as having taken the worn road or the grassier one? Or is one the same as another?
How do you make the big decisions in your life?
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Natasha Fondren is a writer traveling the U.S. in a camper with her four cats. She is currently enjoying the lizards and desert heat in Arizona.
I am on the road less traveled by – though not by choice. That being said, it has proved to be the right path for me. I believe that we can find our way no matter which road we take – it’s how we take those journeys that matter and detours often offer the most spectacular views.
Very true, Amy. I’m not sure how much choice I have in my current path, but it does seem like the best one. At the same time it’s my dream, which is all sort of odd when you mix it all together, LOL.
Interesting post, Spy! (I’m happy I can say that again!) You’ve made me research.
I’m on the road less traveled, and when I think of leaving it, everything within me rises up and screams for me to stay. I’m listening to that scream, which isn’t influenced by either interpretation of Frost’s poem. But whichever is true, I’ve got to say that the idea of “the road less traveled” appeals to me.
LOL! Edie, it makes me feel good!
I know what you mean. Some days I even want the road more traveled, but they are passing moments. There’s a stubborn streak in me that just won’t let me. Or maybe it’s in the universe, I’m not sure, LOL. I do hate to be “normal.”
Funny, my take on the poem (and I have read the entire thing, although years ago) was that Frost was saying the journey was the point, thus the choice of road made the difference.
I like that message, Written! Plus it’s a good thing to remember. When I studied it last night, it just seemed a bit depressing. And then there’s that infamous “sigh,” LOL. I’m not sure what to make of that, although he’s said it was a private jest with himself over all the people in his life who had an attitude that he would regret his choices.
It’s an interesting poem. I’ve never thought about it so deeply.
I think this is something we always wonder about. Especially writers because our world is filled with “what ifs”.
Somedays I long for the road not taken and wonder if I’ve been true to myself on the path I chose. Could I have been more of myself if I had gone the other way in life? Or would the other road have left me with the same questions. It comes back to the old grass is greener theory.
Decisions? I’m a virgo. I make lists of pros and cons. I need to see the black and white of it all to choose. I do this more as I get older. When I was young I was too impulsive and wild with my choices. Hense I will always wonder of that road not taken.
God Bless Robert Frost for his words and making us think (wonder?).
Jeannie, those what-ifs are a killer! Oh wow, I have to say, I’m having a rough morning and some self-doubt. Your comment about being true to yourself is perfect. I know myself and I know that this is my path right now. And I’m loving it because it is SO “me.” I feel more “me” than I’ve ever felt.
Interesting about when you were young. I was not, at all, and I regret it. I didn’t have a choice at the time, I spent most of my time in bed unable to do anything, but I most wish I could’ve gone crazy in my twenties. So I think I’m looking for risks and craziness now.
Thank you, Jeannie.
PS: You’ll always be Spy to us!
LOL, Jeannie!
Okay, Spy (sure, I’ll call you that),
I think I got off the road more traveled 5 years ago when I quit the 9-5 “real” job to become a full-time writer. Thank God for that.
LOL, Mark! You don’t have to. Just sayin’.
It’s true, I do love living by my own wits. Most of the time, LOL.
I don’t see the saracasm element when I read that poem, although I never really thought of it before. Typically I think of poetry it doesn’t really matter at all what the writer intended. It’s what the reader gets. Both interpretations seem valid.
It’s true. I totally agree with that, Charles. Poetry is what you get out of it, more than what was written. Frost himself was big fan of ambiguity and teachings by parable, partly because of that, I think. You can get what you most need, that way.
Hey Spy! Good to see you. I’ve been pretty absent myself lately. Bad blogger. Me, not you.
As for the move, I am secretly hoping you’re moving to my neck of the world.
Hi Anissa! It has been awhile since I’ve seen you, Anissa. You know, I forget where you are. Are you in Arizona? I would definitely stop by, if you were!
I’ve been a bad blogger too, LOL!
Yep. Arizona. We’re roasting right now, but come on by.
Awesome! We’ll probably only be there in winter.
That’s the best time! When winter comes I always say, “This is why we live here.” It’s pretty much two season: hot and not. Winter is gorgeous.
I would so love it if we could get together. Yay!
I’ll bet most people would tell you they have taken the road less traveled. Of course, in a sense, we are all on our own unique road. I regret that I’ve made few decisions about my life. Really, honestly, I’ve spent my life reacting. It isn’t that I have not wanted to be able to make decisions, but I have rarely been in a position to do so, always dealing with something coming at me instead. I feel fortunate to have gotten into freelancing years ago, but unlike Mark, I didn’t have to make a cold blooded courageous decision to shuck my miserable 9 to 5 job. I was laid off! At least I was able to go off in a new direction when forced off my old path.
Hey, as Jeannie says, you’ll always be Spy, Natasha. Obviously. Um…so how’s Boris?
LOL, Eric. You know, I once was flirted with by a Boris. We played some table tennis and had a drink, and I made a joke about it. It fell flat. I tried to explain it, and I’m pretty sure the language barrier was such that he thought I was proposing or something, because he soon skated away after that.
I still find it funny.
It’s all sort of odd. I’m being forced into my dream life, so I’m not sure why I’m panicking. I would have much rather taken small, careful, safe and sensible steps into it. Maybe the universe thought I wasn’t courageous enough. (It would’ve been right, LOL!)
Spy, Frost took the road less travelled because it would help him grow. To take the easy way is not learning or challenging your senses or abilities. It is definitely not sarcasm.
I’m sure he did, Barbara! I’m not saying taking the road less traveled is sarcasm, just that there could be a note of sarcasm to the poem.
He was inspired by his daily walks with a friend, who would agonize over which path to choose at every crossroad. So there might be an element of poking fun at his friend, especially when he claims both paths are the same.
However, sometimes we may write or say things that are meant a certain way, but the universe may have a grander design and meaning for our words.
It’s funny that you blog about this. I actually have a few angsty high-school-era journal entries about this and my response was, I want to hack my own path through the forest.
BUT the odd thing is that I’ve been thinking a lot about this sort of stuff recently (as you could probably tell by my FB status) and I’m not sure how much better some new path is. Often the path is there because lots of people like it. And there isn’t just two paths, anyways. There’s a zillion. Does the path matter…yes and no. I think what matters most is who you pick to travel the paths with you
Lauren, who you pick to travel with you is important.
That’s one issue where Glenn and I just don’t jive. I don’t think anything is worth us being separated, but I guess he’s right. We need to earn the money he makes, even if it is far away.
Like Frost said, the two paths were the “same,” LOL.
Hi Natasha/Spy! As a guy who gets lost frequently, I’m just happy to occasionally find myself on a road at all!
LOL, Rick! Now that’s really less-traveled.
Love the new digs, Spy! I kept getting a page error, when I tried going back to your old site. Glad I found your new spot. I love Frost’s poems, and I don’t really think it matters what he meant. When you put your material into the world, each reader will take from it what he or she wants to, and that is the way it should be.
Really, Michelle? Aw man! And I even reverted to a in-the-box template so that the old site would load quickly. I’m glad you found my new spot, too!
That is so true. And I think that was Frost’s philosophy. He refused to explain the meaning of an of his poems.
I’m late to the party! Damn beach day.
You’ve really got me thinking here. I’ve never heard of there being another interpretation to that poem, and the first thing it made me think of was how they say there are no new story ideas, that it’s all been done before. All we can do is try to take that same old story and tell it in a new and interesting way. Perhaps that’s the message. It’s what we make of the well traveled road.
Hmm, Ibis bought new coffee — that must be what’s making me all philosophical this morning.
I’m so glad you got a beach day! Glenn wants me to sleep a day (I only got an hour last night, but I’m on a roll.)
I like your take on it, Melanie. That’s awesome!
You could’ve written a whole post on that. Damn, you’re good.
Love the new palace!
When it comes to the important things in life (you already know about the one that’s been in the making for the last eight months
), I’m happy to say I’m on the road less traveled and have no regrets. Heck, I’m probably the one who takes an unmarked path and will up pulling out a compass to find her way again. Either way, I’m fine with that. In fact, I think there’s more adventure and chances for discovery that way.
Oh YES! You are totally my hero in that, Marcia. Totally! I’m so going there in the next three years.
I have to force myself on adventure. Baby steps. But I’m going.
So, I don’t know whether you’re notified about new comments, so maybe you won’t see this, but w/evs:
This. Blog. Is. Amazing.
Both in design, and in content. I think I need me a WordPress! XD
I’m flattered to have been referred to as the “genius-poet,” even if I’m not sure it’s accurate, lol.
But anyhow, I’m thinking it was a bit rash of me to say that the last line was intended to be taken sarcastically——it’s more that it’s a possibility. Although it’s also important to remember that while Frost made a habit of validating no one’s interpretation, he still did have opinions. I dunno…
As for me, this is just one more fertile battleground in the war between my cynicism and optimism. I WANT to take the road less traveled by, and I want to believe such a choice would matter, but thinking doesn’t make it so, or however that line from a Shakespeare play I haven’t read goes. (Hamlet, was it?)
Hurm…I guess time will tell.
LOL, Joey! Of course I’ll see your comment! I stole the design. (See link on bottom.)
If you get wordpress, self-host it. (Do wordpress.org and not wordpress.com) Blogging is fun!
Of course you’re the genius-poet. You were my genius-poet student, but I guess I can’t call you that anymore, LOL! They’ve heard all about you. Now doesn’t that make you feel comfortable, LOL?
But I think you were on to something with the last line, because it made me rethink the poem. It does seem to say, above, that one is the same as the other. And I think it’s totally cool that Frost was so adamant about not validating any one interpretation.
I think your road is going to be totally awesome, Joey!
They’ve heard all about me? Oh, boy. Lovely. >__> <__<
I did look at WordPress.org first, and while I know it's always better to self-host, may I ask what you're using to do so?
I used inMotion Hosting for my Zelda fansite and it cost me, like, $170 for three years. o__O Not doing that again, especially not for a blog.
I found your comment! We already talked about this, huh? LOL! Gosh, I know there’s cheap hosting out there. Midphase might be cheaper. GoDaddy has some, too.
But I know what you mean, for a blog. Blogspot is pretty awesome if you want free! They’ve been growing their features a lot in the last couple years.