Loving, Anxious Ghouls Examining Loss
Analysis and Summary of Home Burial by Robert Frost in PDF Format
Robert Frost's aching narrative, "Home Burial," showcases the tragic rift between a man and wife who have suffered the demise of their young one. The woman stands poised at her home's gate, overlooking the grave of their deceased child, seething with discontent from the opening scene.
From this vantage point, the couple's misunderstanding and tumultuous emotions erupt as they clash over their shared despair. The husband feels dismissed and baffled by his wife's flamboyant mourning, while she feels her husband lacks the sensitivity and emotional expression she craves.
The wife barking in fits atop the staircase as her unwilling partner approaches. They feel lost, and the frosty tension simmers. The woman contends her husband is cold-hearted, while he counters that her dramatics bewilder him. Their impasse in understanding their shared loss intensifies a chasm that grows between them.
As the confrontation waxes, the wife vents her fury and overwhelming sorrow, accusing the husband of callous disregard. The husband, however, persists that he grieves in a more subtle and practical manner, unable to comprehend the woman's excessive anguish.
The wife, tormented, threatens to abandon the house, despairing of a future with her frigid partner. The husband's pathetic pleas to keep her at home only emphasize his helplessness in the calamity.
The Resounding Themes of Deficiency & Disconnection
At the heart of the poem lies the theme of deficiency and the isolation it breeds. The shared sorrow of losing their cherished child serves as an emotional wall separating the husband and wife rather than uniting them.
Frost dissects the solitude born of profound grief, as the couple feels estranged from each other. Both partners feel detached from their emotional world, with neither comprehending the other's affliction.
The wife storms at her uncomprehending spouse, and the husband feels shunned and rejected. The collective despair fosters loneliness and hopelessness within their bond.
The Collapse of Communication
Another major theme in the poem is the crumbling of effective communication. The husband and wife grapple with sharing their feelings in a way the other can empathize with.
Despite their mutual loss, their inability to bridge the communication gap results in discouragement, aggression, and helplessness for both sides, demonstrating the stark ways relationships can unravel even in sharing a common heartache.
The Struggle for Sympathy & Empathy
The poem touches on the distress found in wanting sympathy and empathy that remains unattainable. The wife aches for her husband to embrace her pain, but her stoic demeanor eludes her. She desires him to weep tears of sorrow, yet he remains locked within himself.
Conversely, the husband pleads for his wife to recognize the depth of his own grief, as he fails to mirror her expressive woes. This struggle for mutual comprehension results in disillusionment and a growing emotional gulf between them.
The Shattering of Relationships
"Home Burial" also unveils the devastating consequences of profound loss upon relationships. The couple's once solid bond was fostered by shared experiences and love, but the unbearable weight of their loss has caused irreparable damage.
The wife feels emotionally deserted by her husband, adding to her desolation. The husband trembles at his incapability to reach her, cementing the gulf between them. The agony of the loss has pulverized the intimacy that once united them.
Finally, Frost illustrates the futile pursuit of understanding, as both partners strive to comprehend the other's affliction. Despite their attempts to bridge the gap, their emotional gulf defies resolution, leaving them to wallow in their suffering.
Reference(s)
- "Analyzing 'Home Burial' by Robert Frost." Wisegeek. Web. 12 Mar. 2023.
- "Themes in 'Home Burial' by Robert Frost." KeyTeach. Web. 12 Mar. 2023.
- "Robert Frost Home Burial Summary Analysis Themes Examples." LitCharts. Web. 12 Mar. 2023.
Characters in "Home Burial" by Robert Frost experience a tragic rift due to the loss of their child, leading to misunderstandings and tumultuous emotions. The themes of deficiency and isolation are at the heart of the poem, as the shared grief serves to separate the couple rather than unite them. The poem also highlights the crumbling of effective communication, as both partners struggle to bridge the gap in their emotions. Moreover, the struggle for mutual sympathy and empathy occurs, with each partner aching for the other to understand their affliction but remaining locked within their own worlds. Ultimately, the profound loss shatters the once solid relationship between the husband and wife, leaving them to wallow in their suffering without finding resolution.
This exploration of literature through the poem "Home Burial" offers valuable insights for education and self-development, demonstrating the complexity of human relationships, emotions, and reactions to loss. By analyzing the themes and characters, readers can better understand human nature and learn from the failures in communication and the struggles for empathy and understanding inherent in the poem.
