A Roadside Stand

A Roadside Stand

                         By  Robert Frost

 

Analysis of the poem:

§  The poem titled 'A Roadside Stand' by Robert Frost, explores the plight of rural life and the economic struggles faced by those living in the countryside.

§  Robert Frost, an American poet, is widely known for his nature poems with realistic themes and revolutionary ideas.

§  The poem voices out loud the plight of poor vendors and subsequent efforts to change the predicament of rural sections of the city.

§  The poem is rich in terms of language, bitter in tone and expression, profound in emotional content and strong in appeal.

§  The rhyming scheme of the poem is inconsistent and irregular as sometimes consecutive lines rhyme and sometimes one after the other, and sometimes after a gap of two lines, and four lines.

§  The tone of the poem is critical and reflective as the poet feels sad thinking about the unexpressed desires and struggles of a roadside vendor, making a strong appeal for the desired change.

§  The poet clearly brings out the theme that unequal distribution of cash and city money hinders the real development of the city, voicing loud the capitalist theory of Carl Marx.

§  The impactful description of the stand, roadside scene, running traffic, urban and rural parts of city brings out the theme through powerful use of imagery. The poet skilfully employs various poetic devices such as alliteration, assonance, enjambment, metaphor, irony, and personification to convey its themes and an emotional message.

 

Summary / Synopsis

To sum up, the poem captures the struggles of rural life, the impact of economic disparity, and the longing of poor vendors and poor people for a better life and their due right to enjoy their share of city's cash flow. It criticises the disconnect between urban and rural life and unequal flow of money among social groups highlighting the hardships faced by those living in the countryside. The poem also explores the complexities of the systems to find quick solutions to alleviate suffering and poverty.

The poet sensitises the readers, the government and the business sector against the plight, difficulties, and helplessness of poor vendors who live hand to mouth through description of the roadside stand, poor people and their hopeful eyes. He criticises the insensitive attitude of this selfish world and the government who fail to do their bit to improve the condition of the poor vendors through describing insensitive and fast moving traffic. The poet dreams and demands a fresh perspective towards development which ensures growth of all the sections of the city and change the sad reality of poor vendors and rural sections of the city.

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Line by Line Explanation

The little old house was out with a little new shed

In front at the edge of the road where the traffic sped,

A roadside stand that too pathetically pled,

It would not be fair to say for a dole of bread,

But for some of the money, the cash, whose flow supports

The flower of cities from sinking and withering faint.

The polished traffic passed with a mind ahead,

Or if ever aside a moment, then out of sorts

The poem begins with a description of a small, old house accompanied by a new shed at the front of the house. The stand is standing at the edge of the busy road. The setting of the poem is a busy road where traffic moves in great speed. The roadside stand appears to be in a pathetic condition or state of need. It seeks people’s attention for livelihood of the people who depend on it. The poem suggests that the stand is not asking for charity but is selling things and making livelihood which is their right. The stand is seeking little financial support, a small amount of the money on which entire city depends, and which is their due share. The poet suggests that the money earned supports the vitality of cities, and economy and development of the country at large. The cash flow, circulated by the roadside stand is a vital part of the city’s economy. The traffic is described to be high earning gentry who are running with individual purposes in their mind hence, not paying much attention to the stand as they don’t have time, nor sensitivity. If ever they do notice it for a moment, they are displeased or annoyed by its appalling condition thinking that it is spoiling the beauty of the city. 

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At having the landscape marred with the artless paint

Of signs that with N turned wrong and S turned wrong

Offered for sale wild berries in wooden quarts,

Or crook-necked golden squash with silver warts,

Or beauty rest in a beautiful mountain scene,

You have the money, but if you want to be mean,

Why keep your money (this crossly) and go along.

The presence of the roadside stand is seen by higher strata, as an unwelcome intrusion spoiling the beauty of the landscape. The signs on the stand are described as having incorrect directions for 'N' and 'S'. The stand is selling natural products like  fruits and fruit juices in the bottles. Perhaps the stand offers the only thing of beauty that people may enjoy is the mountain scenery which is painted on the stand. The poet suggests that those who have money should be willing to spend it. There's a sense of frustration that people are unwilling to spend money at the stand. Frost intellectually supports Marx theory that money should exchange hands by earning and spending, and that everyone has the right to earn and spend. If high earning people don’t spend on vendors, how these low poverty line people would survive. They are deprived of their share of city money which is ironically accumulated in few hands.

 

The hurt to the scenery wouldn’t be my complaint

So much as the trusting sorrow of what is unsaid:

Here far from the city we make our roadside stand

And ask for some city money to feel in hand

To try if it will not make our being expand,

And give us the life of the moving-pictures’ promise

That the party in power is said to be keeping from us.

The speaker doesn't mind the visual impact of the city spoiled by the stand, as much as the unspoken suffering of poor vendors and their family. The real issue is the silent suffering and unexpressed needs of those who depend on the stand. They don’t plead or demand, but they also have the right to hold their share of money which is being earned and spent in the city. The setting is described as rural, far from center of urban part of the city. The poor inhabitants seek financial support from the city by selling things at the stand. They hope that the money earned will improve their lives and well-being. They, too have a desire for a better life, which is many times seen in the movies as such themes are projected through many films based on socialism and equality. The government and the political parties in power who have made high promises prior to the elections are withholding these promises, and not fulfilling them.

 

It is in the news that all these pitiful kin

Are to be bought out and mercifully gathered in

To live in villages, next to the theatre and the store,

Where they won’t have to think for themselves anymore,

While greedy good-doers, beneficent beasts of prey,

Swarm over their lives enforcing benefits

That are calculated to soothe them out of their wits,

And by teaching them how to sleep they sleep all day,

Destroy their sleeping at night the ancient way.

There are reports in the news that the rural people are to be relocated. The government plans to bring out the rural inhabitants and relocate them in the city where they may receive the benefits of development and urban growth. The relocation involves moving them to more urbanized settings, near theatres and market where they may have more opportunities and, earn better and improve their life. The people in power are described as opportunistic and predatory. The government or authorities will reap their benefits and satisfy their selfish motives instead of supplying the poor vendors their share of benefits. The benefits behind such plans are - to pacify and distract the rural inhabitants. The authorities attempt to control their lives, even regulate their sleep. The traditional way of living is disrupted, including the natural sleep cycle hindering the peace of their life.

Sometimes I feel myself I can hardly bear

The thought of so much childish longing in vain,

The sadness that lurks near the open window there,

That waits all day in almost open prayer

For the squeal of brakes, the sound of a stopping car,

Of all the thousand selfish cars that pass,

Just one to inquire what a farmer’s prices are.

And one did stop, but only to plow up grass

In using the yard to back and turn around;

And another to ask the way to where it was bound;

And another to ask could they sell it a gallon of gas

The poet empathises with the struggles of the rural population. The longing for a better life is compared to childlike innocence. There is a sense of melancholy and longingness in their hopeful eyes. The poet suggests a hopeful waiting for some positive and beautiful change. The anticipation is for someone to stop and buy something. Despite the numerous passing cars, only a few may stop. The hope is for someone to ask about the products for sale or their price. Ironically, the car that stops does so for a different purpose. Another car stops for directions but is not interested in buying anything. Yet another inquiry, this time about purchasing gas, is also unsuccessful as they all don’t purchase anything, nor even ask about the prices, instead they remove grass from the yard by making a turn by the car, which damages the yard while turning.

 

They couldn’t (this crossly); they had none, didn’t it see?

No, in country money, the country scale of gain,

The requisite lift of spirit has never been found,

Or so the voice of the country seems to complain,

I can’t help owning the great relief it would be

To put these people at one stroke out of their pain.

And then next day as I come back into the sane,

I wonder how I should like you to come to me

And offer to put me gently out of my pain.

The response of the people is dismissive, indicating a lack of understanding, concern and empathy. The poet explains the cruel reality of the rural economy. The needed improvement in the poor people’s situation has not been achieved. The poet portrays the collective voice of the rural community. He admits to considering the relief that would come from a significant change. There's a suggestion that a drastic solution, such as relocation, might end their suffering or bring great improvement in their miserable life. At the same time the poet reflects on the idea with a more rational and logical perspective. The speaker imagines someone offering them a help, and wonders how they would feel if someone offered a solution to their personal struggles. He seems to conclude that offering a help is not a good idea. At the same time he wants a change in social fabric and policies of the government so that the predicament of these poor venders can change for better, everyone should understand they have the right to live a life with dignity and happiness.

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Poetic Devices

The little old house was out with a little new shed – Repetition, Imagery, antithesis  

In front at the edge of the road where the traffic sped – Consonance, Repetition, Imagery

A roadside stand that too pathetically pled – Alliteration, Consonance, Personification

It would not be fair to say for a dole of bread – Alliteration, Consonance, Assonance

But for some of the money, the cash, whose flow supports – Repetition, Assonance  

The flower of cities from sinking and withering faint – Anaphora, Assonance, Consonance, Metaphor, Imagery

The polished traffic passed with a mind ahead – Anaphora, Alliteration, Consonance, Transferred epithet  

Of signs that with N turned wrong and S turned wrong – Repetition, Imagery

Offered for sale wild berries in wooden quarts – Alliteration, Consonance, Imagery

Or crook-necked golden squash with silver warts – Anaphora, Alliteration, Assonance, Imagery

Or beauty rest in a beautiful mountain scene – Anaphora, Alliteration, Imagery

You have the money, but if you want to be mean – Alliteration, Repetition, Consonance

The hurt to the scenery wouldn’t be my complaint – Personification, Consonance, Repetition

So much as the trusting sorrow of what is unsaid – Alliteration, Personification, Enjambment

To try if it will not make our being expand – Assonance, Consonance

And give us the life of the moving-pictures’ promise – Assonance, Alliteration, Repetition  

That the party in power is said to be keeping from us – Alliteration, Assonance

It is in the news that all these pitiful kin – Assonance, Alliteration, Consonance

Are to be bought out and mercifully gathered in – Alliteration, Consonance

To live in villages, next to the theatre and the store – Repetition, Assonance, Imagery

While greedy good-doers, beneficent beasts of prey – Alliteration, Oxymoron, Metaphor

Swarm over their lives enforcing benefits – Enjambment, Metaphor, Consonance

And by teaching them how to sleep they sleep all day – Alliteration, Repetition, Irony

Destroy their sleeping at night the ancient way – Alliteration, Consonance, enjambment

The thought of so much childish longing in vain – Anaphora, Assonance, Consonance

The sadness that lurks near the open window there – Anaphora, Personification, Alliteration, Consonance, Repetition, Imagery  

For the squeal of brakes, the sound of a stopping car – Alliteration, Repetition, Imagery

Of all the thousand selfish cars that pass – Alliteration, Consonance, Hyperbole, Imagery, Transferred epithet  

Just one to inquire what a farmer’s prices are – Consonance, Assonance

And one did stop, but only to plow up grass – Consonance, Assonance, Imagery

In using the yard to back and turn around – Consonance, Imagery  

And another to ask the way to where it was bound – Anaphora, Alliteration

And another to ask could they sell it a gallon of gas – Anaphora, Alliteration, Consonance, Assonance

They couldn’t (this crossly); they had none, didn’t it see – Alliteration, Repetition, Consonance  

No, in country money, the country scale of gain – Repetition, Assonance

Or so the voice of the country seems to complain – Repetition, Alliteration, Personification

To put these people at one stroke out of their pain – Alliteration, Assonance, Consonance  

I wonder how I should like you to come to me – Repetition

And offer to put me gently out of my pain – Assonance, Alliteration, Consonance 

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Theme

The poet clearly brings out the theme that unequal distribution of cash and city money hinders the real development of the city, voicing loud the capitalist theory of Carl Marx who says that every social group has equal right to earn and spend using the cash flow in the city and the country. The poet talks about the desired change in economic policies and laws of the government as everyone has the right to use equal share of city money and live a life with dignity and happiness.