The final question of Robert Frost’s poem “The Oven Bird,” “What to make of a diminished thing?” serves as a thought-provoking reflection on how we respond to the difficulties that life throws at us. In this poem, Frost uses the bird as a metaphor for how humans respond to such situations with two different approaches: accepting and embracing our losses or trying to deny their existence. Through his works, Frost expresses a need for an attitude that accepts life’s hardships while still finding ways to cope with them (Frost 1916).
This idea is echoed in many of the other works read this semester. For example, in The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald Nick Carraway remarks: \”So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past\” (Fitzgerald 1925). This sentiment speaks directly to what Frost is implying in his poem because it addresses the idea that although life brings suffering and obstacles, one must keep trying despite those adversities. Additionally Ralph Ellison\’s Invisible Man also alludes to Frost’s message when he says \”Lives are not being lived but invented\” (Ellison 1952). This conveys an understanding about how people are constantly building themselves up again even after suffering great losses which further reinforces Frosts notion about accepting loss as part of life yet still persisting through hardships.
In conclusion , Robert Frosts “The Oven Bird” poses us with a difficult but necessary answer –what do you make of a diminished thing? His work is mirrored throughout many other pieces from this semester showcasing how integral this lesson is in order for us humans not only survive but thrive despite whatever struggle may come our way.
stating, “I don’t want to be a writer. It’s stupid. It’s a stupid waste of time.” Chris responds, “That’s your dad talking.” Chris notes that Gordie is repressing his American dream because his father does not want him to be a writer. He then states that he wishes he was Gordie’s father because if he were, Gordie would not be considering taking shop courses instead of his college courses. Chris acts as a father figure to Gordie, who finds comfort and solace in his friends following his brother’s death. He resents the idea of taking college courses because he knows that it will isolate him from his friends, leaving him completely alone. When the boys finally make camp for the night and go to bed, Gordie is awoken by a nightmare of his father telling him “it should’ve been you” referring to Denny’s death.
Chris’ American dream is to prove wrong the people that believe he will ultimately end up bad because of his family. When Gordie mentions that Chris could take college courses too, he states that no one would let him because they all think of him as “one of those lowlife Chamber kids.” He then explains how upset he was at being suspended from school. Chris was suspended because he stole the school’s milk money, not because he wanted to, but because he was expected to. When he became guilty and tried returning the money, his teacher used it to buy herself a new suit. He explains to Gordie that even if he tried to tell someone that story, they wouldn’t believe him because he’s nothing more than a kid brother to Eyeball Chambers. Deep down, Chris is a good kid whose dream is to succeed in life. His American dream is to make the adults in his life see him not as a punk, but as the intelligent, caring, boy that he is.
One of the most important scenes in the film occurs when the four boys reach a bridge. They must decide whether to cross the bridge or walk an extra five miles to go around the bridge. This entire film represents the journey of childhood into adulthood, thus making the train tracks a symbol of the journey from one stage of life to another. The bridge, as well as the tracks in general, demonstrate that the path towards adulthood can be adventurous, dangerous, and downright scary. When the boys are about halfway across the tracks, a train comes along, forcing them to run. In this instance, the train symbolizes the trauma that the boys have experienced that have ultimately forced them to grow up quicker than average boys their age.
When the boys get close to finding the body, they again are forced to make a decision regarding the direction they take. They can either walk the train tracks or cross a field into a forest and ultimately decide to walk through the field. By choosing this path rather than the tracks, this shows that the boys desire to make their own destinies rather than follow the path that has already been paved for them by their family members, community members, and society itself. When the boys finally find the dead body, Gordie decides that they will not take credit for finding it, as that is not the way to prove themselves to their community. They report the body anonymously and return back home. Gordie and Chris say goodbye to the other boys a
