Essay 1- Comparison of the neighbors

In Robert Frost’s poems “Mending Wall” and “The Ax-Helve,” the characters demonstrate the comparable differences of being each other’s neighbor. Frost uses these poems to tell us that we shouldn’t determine one’s worth on first interaction. Although Frost suggests that we should share amongst our neighbors yet there should be a boundary. In both poems, one neighbor is willing to be the open and “good neighbor” while in contrast, the other wants excludes himself. (Frost, Mending Wall)

I “Mending wall” the neighbors like having a fence between the two. The fence symbolizes many different things, but ultimately it symbolizes a space or boundary between the two. This is completely different from “The Ax Helve” where the French neighbor wants the other neighbor over. So while they are very much different they are also very much similar. (Frost, Ax helve)

The similarities come into play when you look into the underlying meaning and triggers of each poem, in both the neighbors have this unspoken suspicion of the other neighbor. For example in “Mending Wall” the narrator did not see the need for the wall between them which was there to create an alienation and a similar alienation was created by the cultural differences between the two neighbors in “The Ax Helve.”

In the “Mending Wall” the narrator and the neighbor pretty much agree on the benefit of the wall, and in the end they both repair the wall, but the narrator did question the walls purpose. It appears they do not have much relationship outside of fixing that wall.

However in “The Ax helve” the differences between the two neighbors made it hard for them to come together. One neighbor showed a willingness to open up and interact while the other was very reluctant (Frost, Ax Helve). Ultimately the comparison between the two neighbors is that each set of neighbors was given an opportunity to break a social barrier. They each had a chance to step out of what one would call the “norm” or their comfort zone, and in both cases the neighbors were apprehensive about it. (Frost, Ax helve)

We often forget about our neighbors while being some of the closet people to us they can often be some of the furthest people from our lives. Many people just like in these stories prefer to keep their neighbors at a distance. It used to be welcomed for people to come over when someone new moved into the neighborhood and bring them a basket or cookies, or something, but for many neighbors are people you just wave to as you come into your driveway other than that your relationship with them is minor.

So in conclusion in both these stories the neighbors had created a distance or boundary between them. This boundary was caused by many underlying reasons the obvious one to myself was the fear of the unknown. In the “Mending Wall” there was no apparent reason for a fence to be put their, the fence was a mere separation from being close into each others lives, the fence would only allow there relationship to flourish so much. The only bonding they needed was the bonding they did while repairing the fence. And in “the Ax helve” these neighbors showed that sometimes you have to look past your differences, to close the gap between two people.

Reference page

Frost, Robert. “Mending Wall.” Poetry X. Ed. Jough Dempsey. 16 Jun 2003. 18 Apr. 2011 <http://poetry.poetryx.com/poems/219/>.

Frost, Robert. Miscellaneous Poems to 1920. Bartleby.com, 1999. www.bartleby.com/155/. [Date of Printout].

Lisa Seale. "The Poetry of Robert Frost." Identities and Issues in Literature. Salem Press, 1997. eNotes.com. 2006. 17 Apr, 2011 <http://www.enotes.com/poetry-robert-frost-salem/
poetry-robert-frost>

http://www.english.upenn.edu/~afilreis/88/frost-mending.html

http://www.english.illinois.edu/maps/poets/a_f/frost/wall.htm