Why did Robert Frost write the Road Not Taken?

Why did Walt Whitman write O Captain! My Captain!?

Why does any writer write something? It's fairly obvious why Whitman wrote the poem. Whitman greatly admired President Lincoln and was mourning his assassination, wasn't he? It's less obvious with Frost's, but what is the point of the poem? Your clue lies in what he's talking about.

To understand why Robert Frost wrote "The Road Not Taken" and why Walt Whitman wrote "O Captain! My Captain!," it is important to explore the historical context, personal experiences, and literary influences that shaped their works.

Robert Frost wrote "The Road Not Taken" in 1915 and it was published in his collection of poems titled "Mountain Interval" in 1916. This poem is often misinterpreted as an encouragement to take the less traveled path in life. However, a closer analysis reveals that it actually explores the idea of regret and the complex nature of choices.

Frost himself once said the poem was "tricky" and that "everyone thinks it's about taking the road less traveled." The poem presents a speaker who stands at a fork in the road and is faced with two choices. Both paths appear equally appealing, but the speaker realizes that he can only choose one path. He expresses doubt about the decision and makes a choice, acknowledging that he will never know what would have happened if he had taken the other path. The poem ends with the speaker claiming that taking the less traveled path has made all the difference, although it is left open to interpretation whether this difference is positive or negative.

The ambiguity of "The Road Not Taken" reflects Frost's personal experiences and his views on the choices we make in life. Frost himself faced many turning points and decisions throughout his life, whether in relationships, career choices, or artistic pursuits. The poem can be seen as a reflection of the complexity and uncertainty associated with decision-making, as well as the tendency for humans to romanticize what might have been.

Moving on to Walt Whitman's poem "O Captain! My Captain!," it was written in 1865 as an elegy for the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln. It is important to note that Whitman had a deep admiration for Lincoln and considered him a hero figure. The poem uses nautical imagery to draw an extended metaphor between Lincoln and the captain of a ship.

Whitman's writing was strongly influenced by the events and emotions of the American Civil War. He witnessed the impact of the war firsthand as a volunteer nurse in military hospitals, tending to wounded soldiers. The assassination of Lincoln deeply affected Whitman, who described Lincoln as "mix'd tears, joys, hopes, blending, as mine do, as everybody's."

"O Captain! My Captain!" reflects Whitman's grief and mourning for the loss of Lincoln, as well as his pride in the president's leadership during the war. The poem celebrates Lincoln's achievements as a captain who successfully guided the nation through the tumultuous seas of the Civil War. The repeated refrain of "fallen cold and dead" reinforces the tragic loss of a great leader and expresses the speaker's immense sorrow.

To understand the motivations behind the poem, it is crucial to take into account Whitman's deep connection to the events of his time, his admiration for Lincoln, and the widespread shock and grief felt across the nation following the president's assassination.

In summary, both Robert Frost's "The Road Not Taken" and Walt Whitman's "O Captain! My Captain!" can be understood in the context of the authors' personal experiences, historical events, and poetic styles. Frost explores the complexities of decision-making and the ambiguity of choices in life, while Whitman mourns the loss of a cherished leader and pays tribute to his remarkable impact during a pivotal moment in American history.