Wednesday, March 28, 2012

Does the speaker seem happy with his decision?(what is the difference in the choices of roads?) "The Road Not Taken" by Robert Frost

Many people take "The Road Not Taken" as a metaphor for
making tough decisions.  Two roads in a wood that are essentially the same - but one is
less traveled, meaning, it is not the popular choice.


Put
this in the context of making this kind of a choice.  When you have decided to go the
road most traveled, for instance, in the end, has it been as
fulfilling as when you decided to go against the popular decision and do your own
thing?  For some, the answer is a resounding "No."  Going with the crowd, for many, has
simply resulted in a complacent disappointment.  Be honest.  How does it feel to be part
of the status quo?


On the other hand, taking the road
less traveled is often lonelier, more difficult, and sometimes,
results in not many people noticing that you went a different way.  In my experience,
the results of taking a less traveled road have been to my personal benefit, but most
often I think I'm the only one who understands the "difference" it made.  Perhaps this
is why the speaker says this with a "sigh."  It did make a
difference, a positive difference even, but alas, only he (the speaker) can understand
it.

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