Comparing the Neighbors in Mending Wall and The Ax-Helve by Robert Frost - Essay Example

Frost appears to have placed the main character in an experience that struggles to cope with understanding a neighbor’s point of view in either rural setting. While he tries to comprehend the sense in keeping a ‘wall’ or barrier, asking why fences make good neighbors, he could barely grasp the idea since in this case, the neighbor displays a rarely casual behavior of indifference and would not take an extra mile of reaching out to be heard in proper interaction. No name for the latter is ever mentioned and the poet might have done so on purpose of needing the reader to realize that though they have seen the events of each other’s lifestyles for quite a while, some touch of companionship or sensible acquaintance is missing.

In springtime, the speaker says that the season is a ‘mischief’ for feeling still clueless saying ‘If I could put a notion in his head: Why do they make good neighbors?’ and even reasons with subtle sarcasm exclaiming ‘Isn’t it Where there are cows? But here there are no cows.’ Frost expresses the lack of ‘mending’ something more essential in this situation of neighborhood. Apparently, all they ever do during Spring is mend walls which might have undergone breakage or damage by fallen boulders.

The literal ‘walls’ that are claimed to make ‘good fences’ themselves do go through satisfactory reparations yet whether the neighborly relations happen in good terms creates a huge question which one may find having to answer the way he would a mystery. On the other hand, the foreigner in ‘The Ax-Helve’ characterizes a healthy degree of familiarity with his surroundings, and the narrator seems to obtain no signs of alienation except ‘language barrier’. However, because the French-Canadian fellow could spark interest on sincerely welcoming the speaker for further discussion regarding his knowledge and craftsmanship with the ax, it must be more convenient to establish ease in communication and understanding.

His name, Baptiste, is readily mentioned proceeding the poem’s onset as the narrator states ‘This was a man, Baptiste, who stole one day – Behind me on the snow in my own yard’. ‘Stole’ occurs to be an indispensable term which rather suggests a positive deed to initiate connection between the two. Then, saying that Baptiste ‘Held it a moment where it was, to calm me, Then took it from me – and I let him take it,’ implies uncompelled submission or indirect hint of probable continuity of sound relations at a later time.

Compared to the other neighbor who is solely concerned with the significance of mending wall every season, Baptiste bears that opposite type who is capable of speaking about new things or at least those that really matter to him. Unlike the former who maintains the routine of replying ‘good fences make good neighbors’ until the end, making the weary last line, he progresses to assert utterances that reflect diversity no matter how obviously exasperating it gets the American listener to adjust to his vocabularies, accent, and manner of speech delivery.

Frost likely points out in this poem that it can be worked out since Baptiste demonstrates willingness to allow the other person know his insights and good intentions. This way, the comfort of serving each other the right trust naturally follows