MENDING
WALL
* BEGINNING OF THE POEM :
The poem has an abrupt and dramatic beginning which has a
conversational tone. Generally to say about the poem it mixes up the
thoughts which are narrow worldly and selfish with the thoughts of
wisdom and philosophy which are broad universal and selfless.
* COMMENT
ON 'HUNTERS' : “The work of
hunters is another thing”
The
poet
is
addressing the little children chasing some animals like rabbit along
with their dogs. The poet here uses no past tense which means it is
a usual activity of the poet to keep away the mischievous children
from destroying the wall/fence/boundary.
* READING
THE LINES ''WALLING IN .......WALLING OUT" (What
I was walling in or walling out) AND
THE IDEA OF 'OFFENSE' IN THE POEM 'MENDING WALL' :
Before the wall was built, the poet used to locate the objects
geographically around as his and as not his with his neighbour's
generosity. Both showed equal respect and concern. But the wall built
makes an offense questioning that purity of love, respect, and
relation existing between the poet and his neighbour. Another offense
it makes is to the openness/limitlessness of this world.
* ABOUT THE ENDING : (he says again, 'Good
fences make good neighbours') The
poet towards the end of the poem, says that he has failed to convince
his neighbour of the need of destruction of the wall between them.
The neighbour stubbornly sticks to the old saying " good fences
make good neighbours". At this the poet feels that his neighbour
is equal to an uncivilised man of the stone age. The poet gets this
image of 'an old-stone savage armed' seeing his neighbour walking
with a stone in his hand.
*
SIGNIFICANCE OF THE WORD "DARKNESS" IN THE POEM : The
word "darkness" is suggestive of pain, sadness, bad
experiences, night, all the negativity, senselessness and an age
marked
by
ignorance. Here the word indicates the negativity in human relations
based on certain conditions as well as man's (neighbour's) ignorance.
* COMMENT
ON "SOMETHING" : The
word "something" comes twice in the poem 'Mending Wall'.
The poet attaches too much importance to the word "something".
From the beginning itself he connects a mysterious air to it. But it
is in the materialistic/worldly/physical sense he is doing so at
first. For instance the "something"may mean the heat of
sunlight , the cold winter(climactic changes), the mischief of little
children, their dog etc. But later a digression comes in. Thus
"something" comprises meanings related to the non-physical;
spiritual world. For example, it means 'the elves'; the mischief of
some mysterious, invisible powers working to destroy the wall/fence.
* COMMENT
ON THE TITLE 'MENDING WALL' : The
title
of
the
poem
revolves around the major activity of 'mending' a wall by the poet
and his neighbour. But on a deeper level of understanding, the title
may bring more meanings. Firstly 'mending' can be taken as a verb
thus suggesting an action of repairing the wall. Secondly 'mending'
can be taken as an adjective where we get the idea that it is the
wall' that mends and not the poet or any neighbour. 'The wall'
repairs the relation between human beings. The poet's importance is
felt by his neighbour and the neighbour's importance is felt by the
poet only in the presence of 'the wall'. The wall makes individuals
indispensable from each other.
There
is silent relation between two persons;two groups;two countries if
there is a wall /fence/border. Even if there is enmity between two
neighbours it is the wall that makes them neighbours. No distant
friend can demand that place. The wall has thus immense importance in
the poem. It connects and separates simultaneously.
Another
related theme is the incessant tasks in life. The activity of mending
the wall as well as the wall's destruction does not end. The poet and
the neighbour need to mend it during every spring time. The action
connects to the Greek Sisyphean task of pushing boulders up a hill,
only to roll it down again. Similar
version is found in the myth of “Naranathu Bhranthan” in
connection with the locally spread and oft-told tale “Parayil Petta
Panthirukulam” in Kerala, Valluvanadu region.
The
purpose and purposelessness; connection and separation; time and
timelessness, plays and pauses are well delineated in the action of
'mending'. The title is highly wise, philosophical, and too pregnant
with meanings.
