The Road Not Taken And I M Nobody ! Who Are You?

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Emily Dickinson and Robert Frost were two poets who wrote on their ideas of nonconformity and one’s true self. Dickinson’s poem “I’m Nobody! Who are you?” and Frost’s poem “The Road Not Taken” both explore themes of individuality and self and give different connotations to being an individual separate from the thoughts or opinions of others. In her poem “I’m Nobody! Who are you?” Dickinson presents her idea of self as a “Nobody,” someone who is more isolated and not a part of the rest of society, in contrast to a “Somebody.” The speaker tells her fellow “Nobody” to keep silent in order to keep the peace and individualism that comes with not being noticed by society. This poem takes on a lighter, almost celebratory tone towards being a “Nobody,” …show more content…

The poem describes a person at a fork in the road who must choose which path to take. The speaker, however, isn't confident in their decision and says they feel “sorry I could not travel both.” The speaker chooses the road that appears to be taken less, and in doing so, Frost suggests that the choices one makes define the self and the future, and each person’s path is …show more content…

Emerson believed that each individual should trust their inner voice over society’s influence and that being sure of your self-identity is the source of all knowledge. This idea of individualism is showcased by Dickinson’s celebration and excitement towards being “Nobody,” as well as by Frost’s emphasis on knowing yourself and your decisions having an impact on the rest of your future. Emerson also believed that the individual should try to resist conformity and the pressure that society has on each of us. This idea is shown in both poems as well. In Dickinson’s poem, this is seen by the speaker’s rejection of “Somebody,” who is seen as “dreary” and “public.” In Frost’s poem, this idea of nonconformity is seen when he chooses to take the road that “was grassy and wanted wear,” meaning not many people had gone down that path. Instead of choosing the path society expects the speaker to choose, the speaker makes the decision to choose the path next to no one goes